Power Sector News Roundup for June 22, 2026
Concord Biotech to acquire stake in renewable power SPV
Concord Biotech Limited has entered into an agreement to acquire a 27.38% equity stake in FSGE Renewable Power Private Limited for approximately Rs 6.3 crore. The SPV is developing a wind-solar hybrid project in Gujarat comprising 6.3 MW AC of wind capacity and 6.3 MWp DC of solar capacity for the company’s Limbasi facility. The project is planned as a captive power generation facility to meet part of Concord Biotech’s energy requirements. Following completion of the transaction, FSGE Renewable Power will become an associate company of Concord Biotech. The equity shares are expected to be allotted within 60 days from the date of the agreement.
Texmaco Rail secures Rs 12 crore OPTCL transmission line orders
Texmaco Rail & Engineering Limited has secured two orders worth Rs 11.65 crore, inclusive of taxes, from Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL). The contracts involve engineering, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of second circuit single-circuit lines on double-circuit towers. The projects will be executed on a turnkey basis as part of OPTCL’s transmission network expansion and strengthening initiatives. Both orders are domestic in nature and are scheduled for completion within 12 months from the date of the Letter of Award.
GEON commissions 2.88 GWh BESS project at Khavda
GEON (Green Energy ON), the future technologies division of Kabra Extrusiontechnik Ltd, has commissioned a 2.88 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at Khavda. The project was completed within five months and is now fully operational. GEON’s scope included system integration, execution, testing and commissioning, including power conditioning systems, transformers and energy management systems. The company said the installation is among the largest utility-scale BESS deployments in India. GEON is also planning a gigafactory as part of its long-term energy storage manufacturing strategy.
MoEFCC’s new RoW norms could cut forest land for power lines by up to 96%
The Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has approved revised Right-of-Way (RoW) norms for transmission lines passing through forest areas. The norms incorporate provisions under the Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards) Amendment Regulations, 2025. According to the Committee, the use of pole structures can reduce tower footing area by up to 96%, while High Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) conductors can reduce RoW requirements by up to 26%. The revised framework will apply only to projects adopting the newer transmission technologies. The changes are expected to reduce forest diversion requirements and support transmission infrastructure development.
MNRE clarifies glass evacuated solar collector tubes fall outside quality control order
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has clarified that Glass Evacuated Solar Collector Tubes are not covered under the Solar Thermal Systems, Devices and Components (Quality Control) Order, 2024. In an Office Memorandum issued on June 19, 2026, the ministry stated that the QCO applies only to specified solar thermal products. These include Solar Flat Plate Collectors for Solar Water Heating Systems, All Glass Evacuated Tubes Solar Water Heating Systems, and Storage Water Tanks for such systems. The clarification is expected to provide regulatory certainty for manufacturers and suppliers. MNRE has directed stakeholders to take note of the clarification.
Power Mech wins Rs 1,008.9 crore order for JSW’s thermal plant in West Bengal
Power Mech Projects Limited has won a work order worth Rs 1,008.90 crore, inclusive of GST, from JSW Thermal Energy Limited. The contract covers civil and structural works for the boiler turbine generator area of a 2×800 MW thermal power project at Salboni in West Bengal. The work is scheduled to be completed within 36 months from the effective date of commencement. The Salboni project has an estimated cost of Rs 14,070 crore and will span 724.38 hectares across 19 villages. The project is expected to require 8.85 million tonnes of coal annually.
Hexa Climate signs PPA with NHPC for 160 MW FDRE project
Hexa Climate has signed a power purchase agreement with NHPC Limited for a 160 MW Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE) project. The project comprises 80 MW base capacity and an additional 80 MW under the green-shoe option. It is designed to operate at a 65% annual capacity utilisation factor and will supply power through the Inter-State Transmission System. NHPC will act as the intermediary procurer, while Punjab State Power Corporation Limited will purchase the power. The tariff was discovered at Rs 4.33 per kWh through competitive bidding and adopted by both CERC and PSERC.
GE Power India appoints Rahul Rojal as Chief Financial Officer
GE Power India Limited has appointed Rahul Rojal as Chief Financial Officer with effect from June 19, 2026. Rojal is a Chartered Accountant with more than 16 years of experience in financial reporting, audit, governance and strategic finance. Prior to this appointment, he served as Senior Financial Reporting Manager and Chief Risk Officer at GE Power India. His experience includes Ind AS reporting, SEBI compliance, investor relations and enterprise risk management. Before joining the company, he worked with DCM Shriram Limited for around seven years.
PM Modi announces Solar Village initiative for Odisha’s Pahadpur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that Pahadpur village in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district will be developed as a Solar Village. The initiative aims to provide solar energy access to every household in the village. The announcement was made during the ‘Vikas Ra Dhara, Odisha Sara’ programme marking two years of the BJP government in Odisha. Modi said the village would emerge as a renewable energy hub and gain recognition through the initiative. He also highlighted ongoing industrial development and investment promotion efforts in the state.
Karnataka High Court quashes KERC order on captive power verification
The Karnataka High Court has quashed a Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) order introducing a new methodology for verifying captive status of group captive power projects. The Court held that the approach was inconsistent with Rule 3 of the Electricity Rules, 2005 and the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Dakshin Gujarat case. It directed KERC to reconsider the matter and develop a fresh procedure after stakeholder consultation. The dispute centred on the regulator’s Unitary Qualifying Ratio methodology. The Court also noted that the revised framework had been introduced without adequate consultation.
Captive wind power user wins refund battle against MSEDCL over charge calculation method
The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has directed Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to refund excess wheeling and transmission charges collected from Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. for the period from September 2021 to May 2023. The dispute related to the methodology used to calculate charges on open access power sourced from captive wind power plants. SIIPL sought a refund of Rs 68.65 lakh along with interest of Rs 9.10 lakh. MERC reiterated that charges should be levied on actual energy drawal at the consumption end rather than gross energy injection. MSEDCL has been directed to process the refund within one month, subject to verification.
CERC approves procedure for reallocation of vacant ISTS bay capacity
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has approved a procedure for reallocating vacant terminal bay capacity at Inter-State Transmission System substations. The framework operationalises Regulation 11C under the Connectivity and General Network Access Regulations, 2022. Vacant capacity will be reallocated to eligible entities within the same cluster based on the timestamp of connectivity applications. CTU has been directed to publish vacancy details within three working days of an event creating spare capacity. The framework came into effect on June 9, 2026.
CERC has published the explanatory memorandum accompanying the draft fourth amendment to the Connectivity and General Network Access Regulations, 2022. The memorandum states that the Central Transmission Utility of India Limited is unable to plan transmission systems for around 60 GW of projects holding in-principle connectivity. About 33 GW of this capacity is concentrated in renewable energy zones including Bhadla, Bikaner, Barmer, Ramgarh, Kutch and Khawda. CTUIL cited factors such as limited load growth, surplus solar generation and uncertainty around future green hydrogen and data centre demand. The draft amendment was issued on May 20, 2026.
CERC rejects HPX plea for PTC stake dilution extension
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has rejected a petition by Hindustan Power Exchange Limited seeking a three-year extension for PTC India Limited to reduce its shareholding from 22.62% to 5%. CERC held that Regulation 15(1)(b) of the Power Market Regulations, 2021 restricts exchange members from holding more than 5% equity in a power exchange. The Commission noted that PTC traded around 51,095.64 MUs during FY 2024-25, accounting for about 31.80% of total bilateral electricity volume transacted through licensed traders. It ruled that PTC must first reduce its shareholding to 5% before becoming a trader member of HPX. The Commission also dismissed an intervention application filed by Indian Energy Exchange.