The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has proposed mandating the use of India-made solar wafer in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) starting June 1, 2028 to push for the domestic manufacturing capacities across the solar value chain, Mercom India reported.
The mandate mentions that ALMM for wafers will not be issued unless an annual 15GW capacity is in place. The previous ALMM mandates have been successful in putting a robust manufacturing capacity at place in four years.
India Adds 2.8 GW of Rooftop Solar Capacity in First Half of 2025
India has added 2.8 GW of rooftop solar capacity in the first half of 2025. These installations grew 158% year-on-year. The installation growth in the first half is attributed to clearance of delayed registrations under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the commissioning of new systems, and enhancements to the PM Surya Ghar Portal, reported Mercom India.
In the second quarter of 2025, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan led the rooftop additions, representing 64% of the total installations.
GST Council Reduces Tax on Renewable Energy, Levies 18% Tax on Coal
India’s GST council restructured the tax on energy sector to accelerate India’s clean energy transition. The tax on renewable components such as solar cells, windmill equipment, and biogas plants will be reduced from 12% to 5% while the tax on coal and lignite will increase from 5% to 18%, DownToEarth reported.
This move is aimed at making renewable energy more accessible and competitive, while gradually disincentivising the use of fossil fuels. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, in its official notification, said that the revision is designed to reduce India’s dependence on imported solar modules, particularly from China.
China aims to nearly double battery storage by 2027 in $35bn plan
China plans to almost double its new energy storage capacity to 180 GW by 2027, from the current capacity of 95GW, Reuters reported. Citing the official plan, the report said the target will stimulate $35bn in investment in the sector. The report noted that the new energy storage capacity in China is “made up mostly of lithium-ion battery storage”.
US Energy Secretary Says Offshore Wind Increases Electricity Prices, Denies Climate Change
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said offshore wind increases electricity prices as he defended the Trump administration’s decision to block a $6.2 billion wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island, adding that climate change is “not incredibly important”, reported The New York Times.
The project was expected to create more than 55,000 jobs by the end of the decade and supply enough electricity to power 22 million homes. Energy experts have also called out Wright for oversimplifying the economics of offshore wind energy.
US Solar Installations Decline 28% in Q2 On Policy Shift Challenges
The US solar industry installed 7.5 GW of capacity in the second quarter, which is a 28% quarter-on-quarter decline over numerous policy shifts such as increased prices following government’s baseline tariff of 10% and shifting policies around guidance and permitting of solar and wind projects, Mercom India reported.
The report said all segments except commercial solar, saw a decline in capacity additions. Commercial solar saw a strong project pipeline that continues to come under California’s previous net metering regime.
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