India adds 3.6 GW solar open access in H1 2024, up 153% year-on-year

10 Sep 2024 CW Team

India installed 3.6 GW of solar open access capacity in the first half of 2024, marking a 153% increase compared to 1.4 GW during the same period in 2023, according to Mercom India?s Q2 2024 Solar Open Access Market Report. The report highlighted that the capacity added in the first half of 2024 surpassed the total annual installations of previous years, indicating the growing demand for open access solar from industrial and commercial units.

The surge in installations was attributed to the availability of low-cost solar module inventory, which had been procured before the ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) exemption expired. However, the report noted that capacity additions slowed in Q2 2024 as developers postponed installations due to uncertainties surrounding ALMM exemptions. India added 1.8 GW of solar open access capacity in Q2 2024, which represented a slight 2.5% decrease from Q1, but a significant 152% year-over-year (YoY) increase compared to the 712.8 MW installed in Q2 2023.

Karnataka led in solar open access installations in Q2 2024, accounting for over 40% of the total. Alongside Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were among the top five states, contributing to more than 85% of the quarter?s total capacity additions.

As of June 2024, the cumulative installed solar open access capacity reached 16.3 GW, with Karnataka maintaining its lead by accounting for over 30% of the total installations. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu followed, with nearly 14% and 11% of cumulative capacity, respectively. The pipeline for solar open access projects under development and pre-construction stood at nearly 23 GW by June 2024, with Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu hosting more than 81% of these projects.

In the Green Day-Ahead Market (G-DAM), Adani Green emerged as the top seller, contributing over 29% of electricity sold, while Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel was the leading procurer, purchasing nearly 20% of the electricity

Infrastructure Urban

04 Sep 2025

Forest Drive Targets 960 Hectares Under Harit Andhra Plan

District Forest Officer Mahaboob Basha has announced that the Forest Department is intensifying green cover efforts under the Harit Andhra Pradesh initiative, aiming to carry out plantations over 960.48 hectares across five forest divisions in the current financial year.The targeted regions include Udayagiri, Kavali, Atmakuru, Nellore, and Nellore Rural divisions. Thanks to recent rainfall, plantation work has already been completed over 100 hectares, with pit-digging and soil preparation finalised across most remaining sites.The department has readied over 20.65 million saplings in its nurser..

Telangana Sanctions Rs 2 Billion for Flood Relief Works

The Telangana government has sanctioned Rs 2 billion for immediate relief operations in rain- and flood-affected districts. According to the official orders, Rs 100 million each has been allocated to seven severely impacted districts — Kamareddy, Medak, Nirmal, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, and Rajanna Sircilla — while the remaining 26 districts will receive Rs 50 million each.The funds will be utilised for urgent repairs to roads, culverts, bridges, and restoration of electricity supply in affected areas. However, the government has clarified that the relief amount cannot b..

GST Cut for Small Cars, Hike to 40 per cent for SUVs and Big Bikes

The 56th GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has approved major changes to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure for motor vehicles, reducing rates on small cars and motorcycles while imposing a flat 40 per cent GST on premium vehicles, including SUVs and large motorcycles.The revised rates, which will come into effect from 22 September 2025, offer relief to buyers of mass-market vehicles, while increasing the tax burden on the premium automotive segment.Key Changes:Small petrol cars with engine capacity up to 1200cc and length not exceeding 4000 mm will now attra..