Power Sector News Roundup for August 26, 2026
MNRE seeks ALMM wind OEM compliance on cybersecurity rules
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has directed all wind turbine manufacturers listed under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) to submit their compliance status with cybersecurity-related amendments to the ALMM procedure. The amendment, issued on July 31, 2025, requires OEMs to locate their data centres and research and development (R&D) centres within India within one year and prohibits the transfer of real-time operational data outside India. MNRE has asked ALMM-listed OEMs to submit their compliance status and documentary evidence by August 31, 2026. The Ministry will subsequently conduct random checks and inspections.
REC sets up two SPVs for Bihar, Maharashtra transmission projects
REC Limited’s wholly owned subsidiary, REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL), has incorporated two special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to develop intra-state transmission projects through the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) route. Vikramshila Power Transmission Limited was incorporated on August 24, 2026, for evacuation of power from the 3×800 MW STPP Pirpainti in Bihar. Alkud II Power Transmission Limited was incorporated on August 25, 2026, for the establishment of the 765/400/220 kV AIS Alkud-II/Jath in Maharashtra. Each SPV will be transferred to the successful bidder after selection under the TBCB guidelines.
Kshema Power wins transmission order for 315 MW wind project in Karnataka
Kshema Power has secured an order from a leading independent power producer (IPP) to develop power evacuation infrastructure for a 315 MW wind power project in Karnataka. The order covers approximately 33 km of 220 kV single-circuit transmission line on double-circuit towers and multi-circuit towers, along with unit substations and 33 kV transmission line infrastructure. The scope includes approvals, substation infrastructure, electrical balance of plant, civil works, erection and commissioning. India added 6,057 MW of wind capacity in FY26, taking total installed capacity beyond 57 GW, according to MNRE.
Flender opens wind generator production facility in Chennai
Flender has inaugurated a new wind generator production facility in Chennai under its Winergy brand. The facility is intended to bring production closer to customers and improve supply chain efficiency. It includes capabilities across the wind drivetrain value chain and integrated winding operations. Flender said the investment will support localisation, shorter lead times, local industrial development and skilled employment.
Hartek commissions 500 MVA ICT at Kurnool 765/400 kV substation
Hartek Group’s Power System Business Unit has completed the on-load charging of the third 1×500 MVA Inter-Connecting Transformer (ICT) at the 765/400 kV Kurnool New Sub-Station. The 500 MVA ICT forms part of the substation’s 765/400 kV infrastructure and adds transformation capacity between the two voltage levels. The project involved technical integration and quality compliance requirements associated with large-scale Extra High Voltage (EHV) infrastructure. Hartek said it has commissioned more than 400 EHV and High Voltage (HV) substations across India.
WRPC clarifies mandatory BESS action at 49.5 Hz after Khavda event
The Western Regional Power Committee (WRPC) has clarified that Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) operating in charging mode must either switch to discharging or disconnect at 49.5 Hz. The clarification follows non-compliance observed during the May 13, 2026 grid disturbance at Khavda, when the 180 MW/360 MWh Charal BESS remained connected while charging and system frequency fell to 49.39 Hz. The committee said there is no provision for a grace period or hold condition if an immediate transition to discharging is not possible. A BESS may reconnect once system frequency has stabilised within the normal operating range of 50.00 Hz ± 0.2 Hz.
Six bidders qualify for Lakadia II Power transmission project
REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL) has announced six qualified bidders for the “Transmission system for Integration of Power from RE Projects in Lakadia REZ in Gujarat-Phase II (7500MW)” project. Adani Energy Solutions Limited, Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Private Limited, Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, Reliance Industries Limited and Resonia Limited qualified for the bidding process. Dilip Buildcon Limited was declared non-responsive because its bid did not meet the technical qualification requirements. Following a revised configuration, the estimated cost of the Lakadia Phase II transmission scheme has increased to Rs 8,238 crore.
Adani Energy wins Rs 4,700 crore Satara transmission project in Maharashtra
Adani Energy Solutions Ltd. (AESL) has emerged as the lowest bidder for an estimated Rs 4,700 crore transmission project in Maharashtra to facilitate evacuation of up to 4,500 MW of renewable and pumped storage power. The project will add 562 circuit kilometres (ckm) of transmission lines and 9,000 MVA of transformation capacity to AESL’s network. It includes a new 765/400 kV substation at Satara, a double-circuit transmission line connecting Kolhapur and Satara, and augmentation of the Kolhapur pooling station. AESL’s transmission order book has reached approximately Rs 85,000 crore.
MTAR Technologies bags Rs 126.74 crore NPCIL nuclear reactor order
MTAR Technologies Limited has received purchase orders worth Rs 126.74 crore from Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) for the supply of coolant channel assemblies for refurbishment of the RAPS-4 and MAPS-2 reactors. The contracts are domestic in nature and are scheduled for execution by May 26, 2028. MTAR said the orders form part of its ongoing regular business with the existing customer. Its closing nuclear order book now stands at more than Rs 775 crore.
ACME Solar signs PPA with NFR for 130 MW round-the-clock project
ACME Solar Holdings Limited’s wholly owned subsidiary, ACME Marigold Urja Private Limited, has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) for a 130 MW Round-the-Clock (RTC) renewable energy power project. The PPA was executed on August 26, 2026, with a tenure of 25 years and a Scheduled Commencement of Supply Date (SCSD) of February 25, 2029. The tariff is set at Rs 4.35 per kWh for each year of the agreement’s tenure. The project was awarded by REMC Limited.
KPI Green Energy energizes over 630 MW DC in three months
KPI Green Energy Limited has energized more than 630 MW DC of capacity across its Independent Power Producer (IPP) and Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC)/Captive Power Plant (CPP) businesses during the June-August quarter. The company said this is the highest capacity it has energized in any three-month period since its inception. The quarterly addition is higher than the 533 MW cumulatively energized by the company over approximately 17 years through December 2024. KPI Green Energy is advancing towards the KP Group’s broader target of more than 10 GW of renewable capacity by 2030.
MTAR Technologies expects nuclear orders to reach Rs 800 crore
MTAR Technologies Limited expects its total nuclear orders, including contracts related to reactor refurbishment, to reach approximately Rs 800 crore. The company had said during its Q1 FY27 earnings call that its nuclear order book stood at Rs 684 crore, with an additional Rs 130 crore in orders expected to be finalised during the current quarter. Following the latest NPCIL orders, the company’s nuclear order book has crossed Rs 775 crore. MTAR’s existing nuclear order book is scheduled for execution over two to 3.5 years, while refurbishment-related orders are typically completed within two years.
Alfanar group commits USD 100 million additional funding to Senvion
alfanar group has announced an additional direct capital funding of USD 100 million, approximately Rs 950 crore, in Senvion. The first tranche of USD 34 million, approximately Rs 320 crore, was received in August 2026, with the remaining funding expected to be completed within a couple of weeks. The funding will support Senvion’s product roadmap, expansion in India and international markets, and development of its project pipeline through the ‘Senvion Certified Sites’ offering. The investment also reinforces alfanar group’s commitment to the “Make in India” initiative.
MNRE deactivates 66 PM Surya Ghar vendors over pending applications
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has deactivated 66 registered vendors under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for one month following a review of pending consumer applications. MNRE said an analysis of portal data identified vendors whose accumulated “Agreement Uploaded” applications were significantly higher than their demonstrated operational installation capacity during the previous quarter. The Ministry termed this artificial hoarding of applications and said it could delay subsidy disbursement and compromise consumer choice. The affected vendors have 30 days to clear their backlogs and may face extended deactivation if performance does not improve.
Ceigall India wins bid for Gujarat’s Lakadia, Jamnagar transmission project
Ceigall India Limited (CIL) has emerged as the lowest bidder for the “Common Transmission System for evacuation of power from Lakadia (Phase-II: 7.5 GW), Jam Khambhaliya (Phase-II: 5.5 GW) and Jamnagar (Phase-I: 1 GW) – Part-B” project. The bid was secured through an e-reverse auction conducted under tariff-based global competitive bidding by REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL). CIL quoted an annual transmission charge of Rs 6,086.70 million for the 35-year operational period, with a work execution period of 36 months. The project includes approximately 300 km of high-capacity transmission lines and a 765/400 kV air-insulated substation (AIS) near Nasik.
GameChange Energy commissions first New Zealand solar tracker project
GameChange Energy has commissioned its tracker system at Bright Fern Energy’s 23 MWp Dannevirke Solar Farm in New Zealand. The project marks GameChange Energy’s first completed project in the country and expands its presence across Oceania. The project uses the Genius Tracker™ 1P 4 String system, with TopoSmart™ used to adapt the system to the terrain. The site design accounted for seismic activity, undulated terrain, high wind exposure and complex logistics.
GE Vernova launches 170 kV SF₆-free GIS for transmission grids
GE Vernova Inc. has launched a 170 kV sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆)-free gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) under its GRiDEA portfolio. The F35g 170 kV GIS was launched at CIGRE Paris 2026 and extends GE Vernova’s SF₆-free GIS portfolio to 72.5 kV, 145 kV, 170 kV, 245 kV and 420 kV voltage levels. The product is digital-native and integrates monitoring and digital capabilities for equipment condition and performance. The GIS will be manufactured by GE Vernova in Europe and is available for order.
GERC sets Rs 1/unit transitional banking charge for green open access
The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has notified the GERC (Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access) (Sixth Amendment) Regulations, 2026. The amendment sets a transitional banking charge of Rs 1.00 per unit from September 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, after which charges will be determined annually using a cost-reflective methodology. GERC has prescribed a floor of Rs 0.50 per unit and a ceiling of Rs 1.50 per unit for the computed banking charge. The methodology will use actual 15-minute block data covering energy injection and consumption, market prices, variable generation costs, transmission charges and losses, and BESS charges.
Uttar Pradesh to spend Rs 4,239 crore on 24 new power transmission projects
The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has approved capital expenditure of Rs 4,239.50 crore for 24 transmission schemes proposed by Uttar Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Limited (UPPTCL). The portfolio comprises 12 projects under the Regulated Tariff Mechanism (RTM), two under Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) and 10 under the Deposit mode. The projects include the 765/400 kV, 4×1500 MVA Mirzapur Pooling Substation and associated bays, estimated at Rs 1,315.91 crore. Following the approval, total capital expenditure approved for FY 2025-26 stands at Rs 5,299.01 crore.
UPERC approves Rs 2.57/kWh tariff for 300 MW solar power from MBPL
The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has approved a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) and MB Power (Madhya Pradesh) Limited (MBPL) for procurement of 300 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) power at Rs 2.57 per kWh for 25 years. The procurement was undertaken through a tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) process initiated by UPPCL for 2,000 MW of solar power. Fastnote Biofuels Private Limited (FBPL) was selected for 300 MW at a discovered tariff of Rs 2.57 per kWh following an e-Reverse Auction on January 3, 2025. UPERC adopted the discovered tariff under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
RERC approves 172 pilot BESS projects across Rajasthan
The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) has granted in-principle approval for 172 small-scale standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects on a pilot basis across the three state distribution licensees. The projects will comprise 1 MW/4 MWh systems at identified 33/11 kV substations and will be developed under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model through tariff-based competitive bidding. Of the 172 locations, 12 are under JVVNL, 10 under AVVNL and 150 under JDVVNL. The projects will have a 15-year contract period, minimum AC-to-AC roundtrip efficiency of 85% and annual system availability of 95%.
Kerala proposes new multi-year tariff framework for 2027-32
The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) has issued draft Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Multi Year Tariff) Regulations, 2026, proposing a new tariff framework for generation, transmission, distribution, energy storage systems and the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC). The five-year control period would begin April 1, 2027, and run through FY 2031-32. The draft proposes an automatic monthly pass-through mechanism for fuel and power purchase costs and introduces a tariff framework covering BESS, Pumped Storage Projects (PSP) and other energy storage technologies. Stakeholders must register by September 18, 2026, and submit objections or suggestions by September 25, 2026.
Karnataka opens solar net metering to all consumers, raises cap to 1,000 kW
The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has notified the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (Grid Interactive Distributed Solar Photovoltaic (DSPV) Plants) Regulations, 2026. The new framework allows all consumer categories to use net metering, net billing and gross metering, with DSPV capacity under net metering permitted up to 1,000 kW or the sanctioned load/contracted demand, whichever is lower. The regulations provide six metering arrangements, including Group Net Metering, Virtual Net Metering and Behind-the-Meter systems. For systems up to 150 kW, an online application will be deemed approval to begin the work, while distribution licensees must inspect and commission the plant within five working days of receiving the completion report.
Karnataka sets solar tariffs under PM Surya Ghar
The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has determined generic tariffs for Distributed Solar Photovoltaic (DSPV) and Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) plants for the period from August 25, 2026, to June 30, 2029. For consumers covered by the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the tariff after deducting the applicable subsidy component is Rs 1.96 per unit for systems of 1-2 kW, Rs 2.14 per unit for 2-3 kW and Rs 2.58 per unit for systems above 3 kW. For non-subsidy domestic consumers installing 1 kW to 10 kW systems, KERC has set the tariff at Rs 3.89 per unit. The approved PPA term is 25 years, with a normative Debt-Equity Ratio of 70:30 and a Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) of 19%.