POWER SECTOR AT A GLANCE
Compiled by: Dr. P Rajan, Director, InSDES
Record-High Demand & Coal Security: India’s peak power demand is projected to cross 280 GW during June and July. The Power Ministry has directed thermal power plants to increase coal offtake and manage supply with continuous inter-ministerial monitoring. Source: PIB
Clean Energy Dominance: Global solar power capacity expanded 17 times faster than gas-fired electricity in 2025, marking the fifth consecutive year that gas generation’s share in the global power mix has declined.
Source: https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2026/electricity-demand-and-supply-trends/
Investment Boom: India’s thermal power sector will attract Rs. 2,30,000 crore (US$ 26.71 billion) by 2027-28. Meanwhile, massive infrastructure investments are underway, with the Power Grid Corporation commissioning new network expansions in Gujarat.
Source: GHL India
RENEWABLE ENERGY NEWS
Compiled by: V. R. Sudhi, Chair, Media Publicity & Stakeholder Development, InSDES
MNRE clarifies ALMM-II exemption for ‘Give It Up’ category under PM Surya Ghar scheme
June 10, 2026
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has clarified that residential rooftop solar consumers opting for the ‘Give It Up’ category under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana will remain exempt from the approved list of models and manufacturers (ALMM) List-II requirement for solar photovoltaic cells until March 31, 2027.
The exemption will be available only to net-metering consumers applying through the PM Surya Ghar national portal. No separate application on the National Institute of Solar Energy’s domestic content requirement portal will be required. The MNRE clarified that the relaxation is limited to such residential rooftop solar projects and that all other rooftop solar projects will continue to be governed by the prevailing ALMM-II provisions.
Source: Power Line Magazine
MNRE eases ALMM norms for higher-wattage solar PV modules
June 10, 2026
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has relaxed the approved list of models and manufacturers (ALMM) norms by allowing higher-wattage solar photovoltaic (PV) module models to be enlisted without physical factory inspections under specified conditions.
The relaxation applies to module models with wattage up to 3 per cent higher than the highest-wattage module already enlisted in ALMM, provided the manufacturing facility, production line and machinery remain unchanged. The waiver will be available only if the base model was originally enlisted through factory inspection and there is no major change in the bill of materials, module design, cell size or configuration. For wattage increases exceeding 3 per cent, the National Institute of Solar Energy will conduct online current-voltage curve verification. The relaxation will not result in any increase in the enlisted manufacturing capacity, for which physical inspections will continue to be mandatory.
Source: Power Line Magazine
Defence Ministry approves 250 MW solar-plus-storage project on defence land in Uttar Pradesh
June 11, 2026
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the development of a 250 MW solar power project with battery energy storage system support at Sitapur (Ex-Cantonment), Uttar Pradesh, on about 850 acres of vacant defence land.
The project is the first large-scale solar-plus-storage facility to be developed on defence land by the ministry. NTPC Limited has been entrusted with implementing the project through a competitive bidding process, in coordination with the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) and the Directorate General Defence Estates. The project aims to enhance energy security for the armed forces and reduce expenditure on conventional grid power. Upon completion, it is expected to become one of the largest renewable energy projects established on defence land in the country.
Source: Power Line Magazine