India Adds 5.4 GW Collocated Solar-BESS, Awards 2.2 GW BESS Projects to Developers: Rysad

A Rysad Research report on India’s renewable energy capacity indicated an increase in battery energy storage systems (BESS) capacity, which more than doubled in the first half of the year. This includes 5.4 GW of collocated solar-BESS and 2.2 GW of standalone BESS awarded to developers, marking the country’s highest BESS allocation to date, said the report. Moreover, the study, in its findings, revealed a rise in participation across auctions, reflecting a growing emphasis on grid stability and renewable integration.

Advertisment

Rystad Energy found the average quoted tariffs to be at around Rs. 4,000 ($48.02)/ megawatt-hour (MWh) for standalone BESS and Rs. 3,208 ($38.50)/MWh for collocated solar-BESS projects – a downward trend in pricing that could encourage more developers to pursue integrated installations over standalone solar.

Among the top developers, Jindal Group secured 990 MW of collocated solar and BESS capacity, while NTPC and ReNew each won 900 MW in the same category. In the standalone BESS segment, JSW Energy was allocated 625 MW, and Reliance Power won 525 MW of collocated capacity. Adani Green also participated, securing a 510 MW collocated solar and BESS project, indicating a shift from its previous focus on standalone solar and wind.

Renewable Energy Capacity Addition

Advertisment

India’s push for green power continues to play out most emphatically in its western states. The study found that states like Rajasthan lead with 37.4 GW of installed capacity, driven by 32 GW of solar and 5.2 GW of onshore wind, supported by high solar irradiance and vast desert terrain. Gujarat is close on its heels with 35.5 GW, including 21.5 GW of solar and 13.8 GW of wind.

The report further mentioned, "Whereas Tamil Nadu ranks third, with 11.8 GW of wind and 10.6 GW of solar, and is also a top performer in bioenergy, contributing 1 GW of the national total of 11.6 GW. Onshore wind also features prominently in several other states, including Karnataka (7.7 GW), Maharashtra (5.3 GW), Andhra Pradesh (4.4 GW), and Madhya Pradesh (3.2 GW)."

Moreover, it showed that India added a record 22 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity in the first half of 2025 – a 57% jump from the 14.2 GW installed during the same period last year. The new capacity includes 18.4 GW of solar, 3.5 GW of wind, and 250 megawatts (MW) of bioenergy, which is generated from plant and animal waste. This marks the country’s highest-ever addition in any six months, the study added. 

As per the study, the surge was largely driven by developers moving quickly to take advantage of the government’s Interstate Transmission System (ISTS) charge waiver, which begins at 25% and increases annually until full implementation by June 2028, significantly lowering project costs and incentivizing developers to act.

"India installed 22 GW of renewable energy capacity in the first half of 2025, a new record. However, the country is still banking heavily on coal to meet growing power demand, with plans to install an additional 80 GW of new thermal projects. India is not yet undergoing a true energy transition; instead, it is focusing on building up installed capacity from both conventional and renewable energy sources to ensure energy security. Without urgent action to improve affordability and sustainability, particularly through grid upgrades and energy storage, coal will remain central to electrification efforts, jeopardizing progress toward India’s net-zero goals", said Sushma Jaganath, Vice President, Renewables & Power Research, Rystad Energy.