India Solar Energy Market Highlights – July 2025

The solar power industry in India gained momentum in July 2025 with the approval of massive solar energy projects in various states, the issuance of energy storage tenders, and the commissioning of large solar PV plants. These trends indicate a growing national interest in incorporating energy storage, enhancing grid flexibility, and aligning solar generation with fluctuating power demand. All key players in the public and private sectors are locked in large projects under competitive bidding models and long-term PPAs to aid both industrial and residential decarbonization objectives.

The developments in this month reflect India's strategic push to go beyond mere capacity addition and start offering firm, dispatchable renewable energy. Additionally, the integration of hybrid solar-wind models, group captive arrangements, and new, more resilient and reactive power systems is laying the groundwork for a more capable and responsive power network.

India Advances Solar Energy Deployment with Strategic Projects and Storage Integration

1. Hindustan Power secured an order to set up a 100 MW solar project with a 200 MWh energy storage system

On July 2, 2025, Hindustan Power secured an order from state-owned SJVN for a 100 MW solar project to be set up along with a 200 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system.

The inter-state transmission system (ISTS) project was secured through a tariff-based competitive bidding, followed by a successful e-reverse auction. It is part of the 1200 MW ISTS-connected Solar PV power projects, which include 600 MW/2400 MWh Energy Storage Systems (ESS) to be set up anywhere in India, as stated by Hindustan Power. 600 MW/2400 MWh means 600 MW of battery energy can provide power backup for 4 hours, giving a total output of 2400 MW.

2. INKEL to invest INR 200 crore in Group Captive Solar Power Project

On July 1, 2025, INKEL Limited, a public-private partnership enterprise within the State government, will invest approximately INR 200 crore, or USD 22.84 million, in the group captive model's renewable energy project.

The initial stage consists of a solar power project having 23.2 MW in Malappuram with the collaboration of commercial and industrial groups. The plant will utilize 75 acres of unused land and supply power to commercial buyers like DP World, Hi-Lite Mall, and Prestige, under a model where consumers with at least 26% equity ownership purchase 51% or more of the generated electricity.

3. KPI Green Energy subsidiary Sun Drops Energia secured a 100 MW solar project order from Avichal Power

On July 05, 2025, Sun Drops Energia, a subsidiary of KPI Green Energy, won a 100 MW solar project in Gujarat in collaboration with Avichal Power. This is the second consecutive time this client has placed an order. The project is to be commissioned by FY27 and will have the full EPC and O&M obligations. The share of KPI Green increased by 1.54% after the announcement. The firm posted a net income of INR 104.18 crore (~ USD 11.89 million) in Q4 FY25, which was twice that of the previous year.

4. Zelestra marks full operations at the new 435 MWdc Gorbea solar plant in India

On July 21, 2025, Zelestra, a global, customer-focused, multi-technology, renewable energy company was joined on Saturday 19th July by Hon’ble Minister Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, to mark the full commercial operations of the 435 MWdc Gorbea solar project in the state of Rajasthan, India, Delivered in under 8 months, the project was enabled by a 25-year PPA signed with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). Gorbea will generate 755 GWh of clean energy annually, powering the equivalent of 128,000 Indian households.

5. Vena Energy Achieved India-First Load-following Power Purchase Agreement with SECI under FDRE

On July 23, 2025, Vena Energy, the renewable energy arm of Vena Group, signed India’s first load-following Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for 100 MW capacity under the Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE) scheme. The project demonstrates Vena Energy's capacity to provide reliable and complex clean energy solutions, enabling sustainable growth in India.

• The FDRE scheme, launched in June 2023, comprised configurations like guaranteed maximum power, around-the-clock (RTC), and load-following deliveries as per the specifications of DISCOMs.

• Though several PPAs have been awarded under RTC-based and peak power-based programs, this is India's first load-following PPA. This is expected to provide dependable renewable energy, designed to match the hourly renewable energy demand profile of DISCOMS, with projects that must combine wind, solar, and storage capabilities to ensure consistent hourly delivery over 25 years.

6. Odisha Government approves 178 MW solar and wind projects worth INR 869.8 crore

On July 26, 2025, the government of Odisha granted sanction for new solar and wind power plants aggregating to 178 MW, with investments in the new plants totaling INR 869.8 crore (~USD 99.32 million). This has been cleared by a single-window committee set up by the Energy Department, as reported by PTI.

The list of approved projects includes a 69.5 MW solar park by Prozeal Green Energy Limited, to be developed at Biramaharajpur in Subarnapur district, and a 49.5 MW solar plant by INOX Solar Limited in Telkoi, Keonjhar district.

7. MSEDCL Floats 2 GW/4 GWh BESS Tender to Boost Renewable Integration in Maharashtra

On July 29, 2025, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (MSEDCL) launched a tender to select developers for setting up 2 GW/4 GWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) across multiple MSEDCL-provided locations, connected to the intra-state transmission system. The BESS must support a 2-hour discharge duration and be capable of two charge-discharge cycles per day.

India’s Solar Sector: Central Pillar in India’s Energy Shift

The dynamism of the solar energy sector in India is justified by the growth that was witnessed in July 2025. The increased implementation of state-of-the-art storage systems, the emergence of novel procurement structures including load-following PPAs, and substantial investments in this sphere indicate a trend toward achieving a scalable, grid-conferred indicator in renewable electricity deployment. Moreover, the commissioned and approved projects this month are part of the Government of India's roadmap for renewable energy. These factors indicate the industry's readiness to provide a continuous supply of clean energy. With the backing of synergistic technologies and policy thrust, solar power remains a vital pillar in realizing India's long-term energy security and decarbonization aspirations.