7 GW in Andhra Pradesh: India’s Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL) has entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the State Government of Andhra Pradesh to explore the development of 7 GW of renewable energy capacity in the state. It will comprise solar, wind and hybrid projects with or without storage solutions. This will entail an investment of INR 490 billion ($5.9 billion). TPREL will conduct preliminary assessments, feasibility studies, and development activities to explore the viability of these projects. On behalf of the state government, the New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) will support with facilitation, site identification and support in evacuation infrastructure.
Avaada expanding manufacturing capacity: Renewable energy player Avaada Group has started the construction of its 5 GW integrated solar manufacturing unit at Ecotech in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. It will produce TOPCon n-type solar cells. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, laid the foundation stone for the factory that will be managed by Avaada Electro. He also inaugurated the company’s 1.5 GW solar module manufacturing Gigafactory in Noida’s Dadri. The 1.5 GW facility will produce TOPCon n-type bifacial glass-to-glass PV modules with 16 to 24 busbars with capacity to produce 5,800 modules/day. It will roll out modules with both M10 and G12 cell configurations with 1.2 GW and 1.5 GW annual capacity respectively.
Speaking of solar PV manufacturing in India, TaiyangNews will hold its TaiyangNews Solar Technology Conference India 2025 which will be held in-person on April 10 and 11, 2025 in New Delhi. It brings together executives from India’s solar industry leaders and international experts from various solar fields to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the global solar market. Registrations are open here.
Gentari bags 1.6 GW: US-based global asset manager Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) has sold 1.6 GW of its solar and wind energy assets to Gentari Renewables India. The deal will be completed within 2 phases, according to local media reports. Gentari is the clean energy arm of Malaysia’s Petronas Group.
Solar in J&K: Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) had its first budget presented in 6 years. Out of the total budget of INR 1,120 billion ($13.49 billion), the administration has carved out INR 7.5 billion ($90.36 million) for solar. The J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the money will be used to install grid-connected solar systems under the central government’s PM Suryaghar: Muft Bijli Yojana over the next 5 years. It will provide 200 units of free electricity to all families under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), a government-sponsored program aimed to help the poorest families.
EcoVadis Gold Medal: Solar PV manufacturer Waaree Energies has won the EcoVadis Gold Medal. This, it says, makes it the only Indian solar PV manufacturer to win this distinction. “With a 97th percentile ranking, Waaree Energies now joins the top 5% of companies worldwide assessed for their environmental, social, and ethical business practices- a resounding evidence to the company's commitment to responsible corporate citizenship and sustainable value creation,” stated Waaree. The company operates 15 GW of solar PV module production facilities in India, including 1.3 GW of Indosolar and 1.6 GW in Texas, US. It also has 1.4 GW of cell manufacturing facility with an expansion of up to 5.4 GW.
