Clean Energy Transition Archives - Newscript EnergyWorld

Power Finance Corporation prepares Rs10,000 crore bond blitz as banks desert energy sector

13Sep

By Newscript News NetworkNo Comments

News Update, Power

Power Finance Corporation prepares Rs10,000 crore bond blitz as banks desert energy sector

Power Finance Corporation, India’s largest power sector financier, plans to raise Rs10,000 crore through public bond markets as traditional bank lending to energy infrastructure projects contracts sharply. The state-owned financial institution’s move reflects broader funding pressures across India’s power sector development pipeline. Banking sector analysts indicate that commercial lenders have become increasingly cautious about power sector exposure following historical stress in thermal generation assets. Non-performing assets in the power sector have prompted banks to tighten lending criteria, creating funding gaps for both generation and transmission projects. PFC’s bond issuance strategy targets institutional investors including insurance companies, pension funds, and ...

28Aug

By Pallab BhattacharyaNo Comments

Oil & Gas Industry

Gas Gamble in India’s Remote Northeast

Oil India Limited (OIL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) have agreed to set up Arunachal Pradesh’s first state-wide City Gas Distribution (CGD) network, taking India’s natural gas expansion to one of its most sparsely populated and geographically difficult states. The licence, awarded under the 12th round of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), covers the entire state rather than select districts, making it the first comprehensive CGD concession in India’s northeastern frontier. Structure and Infrastructure The venture will be operted as a 50:50 joint venture between the two state-run energy companies, with provision for the Arunachal Pradesh government to take up to 10 per cent equity. The network will include compressed natural gas (CNG) stations fo...

Solar Energy’s Dominance in India’s $11.8 Billion Clean Power Boom

26Aug

By Newscript News NetworkNo Comments

Renewables

Solar Energy’s Dominance in India’s $11.8 Billion Clean Power Boom

India attracted $11.8 billion in renewable energy investments in the first half of 2025, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The figure is the second-highest half-year inflow on record, underscoring the country’s accelerating pivot to clean power. Solar energy alone captured 77 per cent of the inflows, a reflection of its scale and the steady returns promised by government auctions. “Solar has emerged as the lowest-cost and most bankable option for India’s energy transition,” said Vibhuti Garg, South Asia Director at IEEFA. “Investor appetite is strong because policy and revenue frameworks are increasingly predictable.” The government awarded 59 GW of renewable capacity in 2024, much of it solar, and plans to double capacity by 2030. Utilit...

West Bengal Sets New Rooftop Solar Rules to Empower Prosumers

19Aug

By Pallab BhattacharyaNo Comments

News Update, Renewables

West Bengal Sets New Rooftop Solar Rules to Empower Prosumers

West Bengal has become the latest Indian state to formalise rules for grid-interactive rooftop solar, issuing regulations on August 18 that could reshape how households and small businesses engage with the power sector. The West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC) said the new framework aims to encourage “prosumers”—consumers who also generate electricity—to feed surplus power into the grid under more transparent conditions. The regulations come as rooftop solar adoption remains patchy across India, despite ambitious national targets. West Bengal’s power demand is heavily urbanised, concentrated in Kolkata and industrial belts. Until now, the absence of clear net-metering norms has stymied uptake, with many households unwilling to invest in rooftop systems given uncertainty...

Torrent Power: Gorakhpur Hydrogen Plant Marks New Phase

18Aug

By Newscript News NetworkNo Comments

News Update, Renewables

Torrent Power: Gorakhpur Hydrogen Plant Marks New Phase

By Special Correspondent Newscript, August 18, 2025 Torrent Power, traditionally known for distribution and generation in Gujarat, has made a significant leap into green hydrogen. The company recently inaugurated a green hydrogen plant in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh—one of the first industrial-scale private sector facilities of its kind in India. The plant, designed to supply hydrogen for industrial use and mobility, signals Torrent’s recognition that utilities cannot rely solely on fossil-heavy grids. By investing in green hydrogen early, Torrent aims to capture emerging demand in steel, fertilisers, and transport. “Hydrogen is no longer a distant bet; it’s a strategic hedge,” noted an industry consultant. Torrent’s entry into hydrogen differentiates it from peers like Tata Pow...