Wedoany.com Report-Apr. 23, India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has extended the deadline for specific solar power projects by nine months, allowing developers until December 2025 to complete commissioning. This decision addresses challenges faced by projects under the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA).

The SECI and IREDA had sought the extension for projects under the CPSU Scheme Phase-II.

The extension applies to initiatives under the Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Scheme Phase-II, which aims to establish 12GW of solar capacity using domestically produced photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules. Supported by government funding, the scheme promotes state-run entities in advancing India’s renewable energy goals. Delays in securing local PV modules, transmission infrastructure bottlenecks, and slow tendering processes prompted SECI and IREDA to request additional time.

India’s renewable energy sector faces ongoing obstacles, including limited tender participation, land acquisition difficulties, delayed power purchase agreements, and project cancellations. These challenges impact the nation’s target of achieving 500GW of non-fossil power capacity by 2030. As of now, India has 172GW of non-fossil power capacity, with fossil fuels still comprising over two-thirds of last year’s total power generation.

Despite setbacks, India remains focused on expanding renewable energy. The country previously aimed to add 175GW of renewable capacity by 2022 but fell short. A report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis highlights that current challenges could affect the 2030 goal. However, in 2024, India set a record by issuing 73GW of utility-scale renewable energy tenders, surpassing MNRE’s 50GW annual target. Wind-solar hybrid projects led the tendering process, outperforming standalone solar initiatives, though 8.5GW of tenders saw undersubscription, significantly higher than the previous year.

The deadline extension reflects efforts to address practical constraints while maintaining progress toward sustainable energy objectives. By providing developers additional time, MNRE aims to ensure the successful completion of critical solar projects, supporting India’s long-term commitment to reducing reliance on fossil fuels and enhancing renewable energy infrastructure.