India is rapidly advancing its transition to renewable energy, with the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector emerging as a major catalyst for growth. The demand for sustainable, reliable and cost-effective power has led corporates to adopt hybrid solutions that combine solar, wind and energy storage. At Renewable Watch’s recent conference on “Net Zero Strategies and Green Power Procurement for Corporates”, senior executives from leading renewable energy developers discussed the evolving dynamics in the C&I renewable energy market, as well as the opportunities, challenges and future outlook for the sector. Edited excerpts…
What is your company’s current portfolio and key focus areas?
Dheeraj Ahuja, Vice President, Head, B2B RE Business, ReNew
ReNew Power has over 10 GW in terms of operational capacity. Our C&I portfolio is a growing segment within this, currently standing at 2.9 GW, of which 1.5 GW is operational. Solar dominates our portfolio with 1,100 MW, followed by 400 MW of wind. We have transitioned completely from distributed solar to open access projects in a bid to focus on scalable solutions. Hybrid projects, which integrate solar and wind energy, are an essential part of our strategy as they allow us to deliver balanced, reliable energy. We are also working on integrating energy storage into these projects to provide round-the-clock (RTC) solutions, addressing the increasing demand for firm renewable power.
Nishit Mehta, Chief Business Officer, Serentica Renewables
Serentica focuses on providing industrial customers with customiseddecarbonisation solutions. Our portfolio integrates solar, wind and energy storage to deliver high capacityutilisation factors (CUFs) and meet complex energy demands. Our projects are designed to cater to large-scale industrial operations, offering them dependable renewable energy to replace fossil-fuel-based power. We have placed a strong emphasis on hybrid technologies, recognising that combining renewable resources with storage allows us to provide the reliability and flexibility that industrial customers require.
Shantanu Mishra, Head of Business Development, Amplus Solar
Amplus Energy has built a diverse 1.9 GW portfolio, with 550 MW in distributed solar and the rest in open access projects. We are also diversifying into wind energy, with a recently commissioned 100 MW project in Tamil Nadu. Our strategy revolves around leveraging state-specific regulatory benefits and banking provisions to create value for customers. We offer a range of solutions, including rooftop solar, ground-mounted systems and interstate projects, which enable us to meet the sustainability and cost-efficiency goals of our C&I clients.
Priyam Nandy, Associate Director, AMPIN Energy Transition
AMPIN Energy Transition specialises in open access and rooftop solar projects, catering to both intra-state and interstate clients. We focus on projects that support RE100 goals for both multinational corporations and Indian companies. We are also investing in virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) and have secured 400-800 MW of capacity to address the needs of companies looking for flexible renewable energy solutions.
Sadananda Nayak, Vice President, BD & Commercial, Renewable Business, Sembcorp India
Sembcorp’s global portfolio exceeds 20 GW, with 5 GW in India. Our Indian portfolio is evenly split between wind and solar, with a significant focus on hybrid solutions. For C&I customers, we manage a 200 MW portfolio that includes long-standing projects, some of which have been operational for over a decade. Our open access projects in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu allow us to meet the growing energy requirements of industrial clients while providing reliable and sustainable solutions.
Amit Sharma, Vice President and Regional Head, BD, CleanMax
CleanMax has a significant presence in the C&I renewable energy sector, with 2.2 GW of commissioned capacity. Our portfolio includes hybrid wind-solar projects, with a strong foothold in Karnataka and Gujarat. We have nearly 1 GW of operational capacity in Karnataka alone and a substantial rooftop solar presence of 500 MW. We are now expanding into Haryana, aiming to address the growing demand for renewable energy in northern India.
Rahul Tyagi, General Manager, Sales (C&I Business), BrightNight Power Group
BrightNight is committed to delivering despatchable renewable energy. Our portfolio combines solar, wind and battery storage to ensure reliable energy delivery at all times. Our flagship projects include a 100 MW hybrid energy project in Maharashtra and several others across Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. By leveraging advanced technologies like our proprietary Power Alpha software, we can optimise energy supply to meet the specific needs of our customers.
What were your company’s key considerations in deciding to expand into the C&I renewable energy market?
Dheeraj Ahuja
ReNew expanded into the C&I segment to diversify its portfolio and tap into a growing market. Between 2019 and 2021, utility-scale opportunities were limited, prompting us to explore the C&I space more aggressively. Additionally, industries were increasingly seeking renewable energy to meet sustainability targets and reduce costs, creating a strong demand for our solutions. We recognised this as an opportunity to grow and align our offerings with market needs.
Nishit Mehta
Serentica aims to address the specific needs of industrial customers. The rising cost of captive thermal power plants and the favourable economics of renewable energy made it the right time to enter the C&I market. Industrial decarbonisation represents a massive growth opportunity, and we aim to provide these customers with solutions that are both sustainable and cost-effective.
Shantanu Mishra
Amplus identified the C&I market as a high-growth segment due to regulatory changes that made open access more viable. This allowed us to scale beyond rooftop solar and meet larger energy requirements. Our goal has always been to align with our clients’ energy needs and sustainability targets, and the C&I market enables us to do so at scale.
Priyam Nandy
Ampin’s decision to enter the C&I market was driven by the rising demand for flexible renewable energy solutions. With corporations increasingly pursuing RE100 goals, we saw an opportunity to provide scalable and diverse offerings, including rooftop solar, open access and VPPAs.
Sadananda Nayak
Sembcorp entered the C&I space to diversify its portfolio and respond to the increasing industrial demand for renewable energy. Utility-scale projects were our primary focus, but the growing need for long-term energy contracts in the industrial sector aligned well with our expertise in wind and solar projects.
Amit Sharma
The C&I market was a natural progression for CleanMax as regulatory changes allowed us to expand beyond rooftop solar. Karnataka was a game changer with its waivers for open access projects, enabling us to scale our operations and cater to large industrial clients seeking integrated renewable energy solutions.
Rahul Tyagi
BrightNight entered the C&I space because industrial clients needed reliable, despatchable energy that traditional renewable solutions could not provide. By offering hybrid and storage-integrated solutions, we addressed the demand for sustainability without compromising on reliability or flexibility.
How have you seen customer demand evolving in the renewable energy market?
Dheeraj Ahuja
Customer demands have shifted significantly over the past decade. Initially, the focus was on reducing costs, with customers mainly interested in basic renewable energy solutions. Today, there is a growing emphasis on firm, reliable power. Large industries are increasingly looking to replace captive thermal power plants with hybrid solutions that combine solar, wind and storage. Sustainability targets such as RE100 and net zero commitments have further driven this shift.
Nishit Mehta
Demand has evolved from standalone solar or wind solutions to hybrid projects offering CUFs of 70 per cent or higher. Customers are prioritising reliability, scalability and the ability to meet a larger share of their energy requirements with renewables. The shift is driven by both economic considerations and long-term sustainability goals.
Shantanu Mishra
The renewable energy landscape has changed dramatically. While rooftop solar initially catered to a small portion of clients’ energy needs, open access projects now allow us to meet up to 70 per cent of their consumption. This shift reflects a deeper commitment to sustainability and confidence in the viability of
renewable energy.
Priyam Nandy
Customer demand has evolved and corporations are pursuing RE100 and net zero targets. Clients are increasingly seeking scalable solutions like hybrid systems and VPPAs.
Sadananda Nayak
Industrial clients are now prioritising high-reliability energy systems that can meet a significant portion of their consumption needs. The adoption of hybrid solutions and long-term energy contracts is a testament to the growing awareness of renewable energy’s benefits.
Amit Sharma
Consumer awareness has grown, with many now understanding the importance of sustainability beyond cost savings. Concepts like RE-100 and scope emissions are influencing decision-making, and customers are looking for integrated solutions that align with their environmental and economic objectives.
Rahul Tyagi
Today’s customers are much more educated about renewable energy and sustainability metrics. They are demanding high-replacement solutions that integrate advanced technologies like storage. This shift highlights a broader recognition of renewable energy’s role in addressing both environmental and operational goals.
What are the major challenges your company faces in this market?
Dheeraj Ahuja
Connectivity remains our most significant challenge. Infrastructure limitations in resource-rich regions often delay project implementation. Regulatory ambiguity, particularly around green energy frameworks, also poses barriers to smoother operations. Additionally, a lack of skilled manpower for executing complex projects affects scalability.
Nishit Mehta
Fragmented implementation of open access regulations across states creates inconsistencies that disrupt operations. Ensuring adequate grid connectivity and addressing transmission bottlenecks are also pressing issues for us.
Shantanu Mishra
Infrastructure constraints, such as limited grid connectivity, delay projects and inflate costs. Regulatory hurdles, including cross-subsidy charges and inconsistencies in banking provisions, complicate operations.
Priyam Nandy
Regulatory inconsistencies and procedural delays remain significant barriers. Grid connectivity and land availability issues further complicate project execution, affecting both timelines and costs.
Sadananda Nayak
Land acquisition is a critical challenge, often delaying projects and increasing costs. Regulatory ambiguities and connectivity bottlenecks also pose significant obstacles, particularly in regions with high renewable potential.
Amit Sharma
The lack of uniformity in banking provisions and inconsistent regulatory interpretations across states create inefficiencies for developers. These challenges hinder seamless execution and add unnecessary complexity to projects.
Rahul Tyagi
Land acquisition and grid connectivity are persistent challenges. Translating central policies into actionable state-level regulations often leads to delays, impacting timelines and costs.
What is the future outlook for the C&I renewable energy sector in India?
Dheeraj Ahuja
The future lies in hybrid projects and storage-integrated solutions. As more industries adopt net zero targets, the demand for scalable and reliable renewable energy will continue to grow. Regulatory advancements and customer awareness will further accelerate this transition.
Nishit Mehta
Advanced hybrid projects offering time-specific energy delivery will dominate the future. As technologies mature and regulations stabilise, the C&I sector will play a pivotal role in India’s industrial decarbonisation.
Shantanu Mishra
The C&I sector will drive the growth of renewable energy in India. Hybrid models and open access projects will become the norm as industries seek scalable, long-term solutions to meet their energy and sustainability goals.
Priyam Nandy
The future is promising, with a greater focus on hybrid solutions, high-offset VPPAs and long-term renewable energy contracts. Corporations will increasingly prioritise sustainability as a core business strategy.
Sadananda Nayak
Hybrid solutions that integrate solar, wind and storage will lead the way. Improving clarity on regulatory provisions such as green energy open access rules and banking can mitigate the issues of developers. Additionally, refining frameworks for VPPAs could unlock significant demand and simplify contract structures.
Amit Sharma
The next wave of growth will focus on RTC energy solutions. Hybrid and open access projects will gain traction, supported by increasing industrial demand for reliability and sustainability.
Rahul Tyagi
Despatchable renewable energy will define the future. Advanced hybrid systems with integrated storage will cater to the growing demand for firm, scalable solutions that prioritise sustainability and operational efficiency.
