{
  "id": 2464595,
  "title": "High-tariff hybrid, vanilla solar projects struggling to find buyers: MNRE Secy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/high-tariff-hybrid-vanilla-solar-projects-struggling-to-find-buyers",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-22T00:50:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/business/high-tariff-hybrid-vanilla-solar-projects-struggling-to-find-buyers-mnre-secy-10844249/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hybrid renewable projects and standard solar installations are struggling to find buyers, according to Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Vanilla solar, or 'plain vanilla' solar, refers to simple photovoltaic solar power systems that generate electricity directly from sunlight without additional components like battery storage or wind pairing. Around 42 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity currently lacks power purchase agreements (PPAs). Sarangi suggested that Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) should explore methods to help distribution utilities (DISCOMs) procure this capacity. Developers are increasingly incorporating battery energy storage systems (BESS) into vanilla solar projects to make them more appealing to DISCOMs. However, Sarangi believes that a significant portion of vanilla solar bids may ultimately go unsold. CERC, a regulatory body, introduced a regulation in July 2026 that allows developers to exit projects without forfeiting bank guarantees for connectivity. Some hybrid renewable energy and distributed projects have already been sold, but some hybrid tenders with higher tariffs are having trouble finding buyers. DISCOMs are now prioritizing vanilla wind projects, with more of them being procured for procurement. The government aims to increase polysilicon manufacturing capacity by around 30 GW by 2030, as India currently relies completely on imports for this crucial raw material. Sarangi also noted that the renewable energy sector is exploring alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, like sodium-ion and vanadium flow batteries, which could become more competitive with lithium-ion batteries in the next few years.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Hybrid renewable projects and standard solar installations struggle to find buyers.",
    "Vanilla solar projects incorporating battery energy storage systems (BESS) to appeal to DISCOMs.",
    "DISCOMs prioritize vanilla wind projects, with higher-tariff hybrid tenders facing buyer challenges."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}