EDF Eyes Renewable Partnerships with NTPC, CIL, and Actis

28 Feb 2025 CW Team

EDF India has signed non-binding term sheets with NTPC, Coal India Ltd (CIL), and global investor Actis to advance renewable energy projects in India. Under this collaboration, NTPC will develop, own, and operate pumped storage projects (PSPs), standalone hydropower, and hybrid renewable energy projects. EDF has proposed a 50:50 joint venture with NTPC and a separate JV with CIL to pursue PSPs and renewable projects in India and neighboring countries.

India’s National Electricity Plan 2023 estimates a need for 74 GW/411 GWh of energy storage systems by 2031-32, including 27 GW/175 GWh from PSPs and 47 GW/236 GWh from battery energy storage systems. The Ministry of Power has introduced competitive bidding guidelines for energy procurement from PSPs, while the government has allocated Rs 124.6 billion to support hydroelectric and PSP projects through 2031-32.

EDF also signed an agreement with Actis to establish a platform for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) service provider concessions. This aligns with India’s national smart metering initiative under the revamped distribution sector program, aimed at boosting operational efficiency and reducing technical and commercial losses. In December 2024, PFC Consulting invited bids to empanel AMI service providers for smart prepaid metering implementation.

(Mercom)

Real Estate

05 Sep 2025

Vitizen Hotels Signs Deal at Manyata Tech Park

Vikram Kamats Hospitality, as part of its ongoing expansion in key metropolitan markets, announced that its material subsidiary, Vitizen Hotels, has signed a long-term lease agreement for a 45-key hotel property at Manyata Tech Park, Bengaluru.Strategically located in the city’s prominent IT hub, the property is well-positioned to serve corporate travelers, business professionals, and long-stay guests. The addition aligns with the company’s asset-light growth model, leveraging long-term leases to expand its footprint in high-demand urban markets.The hotel is expected to strengthen the comp..

CONCOR Signs MoU with BPIPL to Operate Container Terminal at Bhavnagar Port

Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhavnagar Port Infrastructure (BPIPL) on September 4, 2025, in New Delhi to operate and maintain the upcoming container terminal at the northside of Bhavnagar Port, Gujarat.BPIPL had earlier entered into an agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in September 2024 for the port’s development. Under this arrangement, 235 hectares of land has been leased to BPIPL for 30 years, with provision for expansion by an additional 250 hectares.The new terminal is expected to significantly enhance logistic..

Concord Launches India’s First Indigenous Zero-Emission Rail Propulsion

Concord Control Systems (CCSL), a leader in embedded electronics and critical rail technologies, has announced the development of India’s first fully indigenous zero-emission propulsion system, marking a significant step toward the country’s railway electrification and net-zero goals for 2030.Powered by Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries and featuring a DC chopper-based drive, the propulsion system eliminates idling losses common in diesel engines, offering higher efficiency, lower costs, and zero emissions.What sets this innovation apart is its completely indigenous design. Except for..