Alongside central tenders, states have issued renewable procurement bids, reflecting the widening scope of India’s renewable energy ecosystem.
India’s Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) have issued letters of award (LoAs) for 67,554 MW of renewable power procurement tenders since April 2023, with zero cancellations, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi informed the Rajya Sabha.
The LoAs have been issued by central agencies, including Solar Energy Corp. of India Ltd (SECI), NTPC, NHPC, and SJVN, reflecting strong execution momentum and investor confidence in India’s clean energy transition.
In addition to central tenders, states have also floated renewable procurement bids, while capacity is being added in commercial and industrial segments through green energy open access and captive routes. This multi-channel expansion highlights the growing depth of India’s renewable energy ecosystem.
Joshi noted that falling costs of solar-plus-storage and dispatchable renewable power are driving a shift in preference among distribution companies and end procurers. Demand for plain solar power has declined, with solar-plus-storage configurations increasingly favoured over wind-solar hybrids, especially for their ability to supply power during peak demand hours.
In response, the Central Government has advised REIAs to pivot from plain solar tenders to more advanced formats, such as solar with energy storage, peak-hour supply configurations, and firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE) tenders. These formats are designed to meet evolving grid requirements and ensure reliable power delivery.
To accelerate the execution of power purchase agreements (PPAs), the Government has taken proactive steps. It has urged states to comply with the Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) under the Energy Conservation Act, and advised REIAs to aggregate demand from distribution companies (DISCOMs) and other consumers before designing tenders.
In addition, regional workshops have been organised with major renewable-procuring states to address implementation challenges and fast-track PPA signing.