In an interview with Renewable Watch, Akash Tripathi, Managing Director, Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), shared his views on SECI’s key achievements over the past year, the tariffs discovered in recent green ammonia auctions, the key challenges in the renewable energy sector, and the outlook for firm and despachable renewable energy (FDRE), round-the-clock (RTC) renewables, and hybrid and storage tenders. He also talked about SECI’s future plans and targets. Edited excerpts…
What have been SECI’s key achievements over the past year?
Over the past year, SECI has delivered some of the most consequential strides in India’s renewable energy trajectory. Crossing the 60 GW milestone in power sale agreements stands as a hallmark not only to the scale of our interventions but also to the deepening trust reposed in SECI by state governments, industry partners and global investors. This achievement highlights SECI’s instrumental role in ensuring the supply of reliable, affordable and sustainable power to the nation.
Recently, SECI also executed the country’s first-ever series of green ammonia auctions under the National Green Hydrogen Mission and the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition scheme, discovering the lowest tariff of Rs 49.75 per kg, which is among the most competitive globally. This development marks a defining moment in India’s transition towards green fuels, signalling the nation’s preparedness to emerge as a global leader in the green hydrogen and green ammonia value chain. It represents a critical shift from conceptual frameworks to demonstrable commercial viability.
SECI’s interventions in FDRE have been equally transformative. Through a series of large-scale hybrid, RTC and storage-integrated tenders, SECI is enabling an energy ecosystem where renewables can be delivered RTC, on demand, and at grid scale. These initiatives are fundamentally re-architecting India’s electricity landscape and strengthening national energy security.
Increasingly, SECI’s mandate extends beyond capacity addition to comprehensive market development, from hybrid and peak power models to green hydrogen offtake mechanisms and the evolving value chains of emerging green molecules. Each tender SECI issues today is laying the institutional and commercial foundation for India’s clean energy systems for the next quarter century. Alongside its role as an enabler, SECI has also commenced several large-scale projects of its own across India, reinforcing its transition from a market-maker to a direct contributor to national clean energy infrastructure.
As SECI concludes another year of impactful progress, our commitment remains steadfast: to steer India into a future where renewable energy is firm, affordable, globally competitive and capable of powering a resilient, high-growth, future-ready economy.
What is your view on the tariffs discovered in recent green ammonia auctions? What is the tender trajectory in the green hydrogen space?
The recent green ammonia auction marks a historic inflection point for India’s green hydrogen ecosystem. Achieving a tariff as low as Rs 49.75 per kg is not just a competitive outcome, it is a global benchmark. No market in the world has reached this level of affordability with such transparency and scale. This single discovery proves a fundamental truth: India has the potential to become the most cost-competitive producer of green fuels globally.
What this tariff signals is profound. The gap between grey and green ammonia has narrowed dramatically, enabling real substitution pathways in hard-to-abate sectors such as fertilisers and chemicals. It also shows that with strong policy design, assured offtake and a transparent e-bidding framework, green molecules can move from pilot to full commercial maturity. This places India firmly on the map as an emerging green fuel powerhouse, capable not only of meeting domestic demand but also of serving future export markets.
Looking ahead, SECI’s tender trajectory in the green hydrogen space is designed to build an integrated, scalable and globally competitive value chain. We are moving beyond stand-alone supply contracts to large, sector-linked procurements, supported by accessible clean energy. This will ensure that electrolyser operations are powered by reliable and affordable renewable energy – a critical determinant of green hydrogen economics.
What has been SECI’s experience with RTC, hybrid and storage tenders? What are the trends in tariffs discovered? What is the tender trajectory in this space?
Our RTC and hybrid tenders have consistently demonstrated that when solar, wind and storage are intelligently combined, we can deliver reliability comparable to conventional power. The steady decline in battery prices has further strengthened this trajectory, making firm renewable energy increasingly affordable.
Tariffs have shown a clear downward trend, reflecting both technological maturity and growing developer confidence. What was once considered expensive is now emerging as mainstream, with RTC and storage-backed bids delivering far better value than anticipated even a few years ago.
Going forward, SECI aims to rapidly scale these models to ensure 24×7 clean power for discoms and industries. These tenders are essential not just for reliability, but also for enabling the next phase of India’s renewable energy expansion.
The market has accepted firm renewable energy, the tariffs are becoming increasingly competitive, and SECI will continue to lead this shift towards a fully reliable, storage-backed green grid.
What are the key challenges in India’s renewable energy sector? What policy measures are needed to address these issues?
India’s renewable energy sector has made remarkable strides, but the next phase brings a new set of structural challenges. Transmission infrastructure, reliability of renewable power and an evolving regulatory environment now demand deeper attention. As capacities grow, maintaining grid stability and managing intermittent generation will be central to sustaining the momentum.
At the same time, emerging areas such as green hydrogen and green ammonia offer transformative opportunities. However, these markets will require strong policy direction, global partnerships and clear commercial frameworks to mature at scale. Energy storage deployment across both battery and other technologies will be the critical enabler, allowing India to integrate higher volumes of renewable power while ensuring dependable supply.
Going forward, the sector needs an impetus that further streamlines clearances, reinforces investor confidence, promotes firming up of intermittent renewable energy supply and encourages innovation in clean technologies. A predictable regulatory path and transparent market mechanisms will give developers and investors the long-term clarity they need.
India has already demonstrated its ability to expand renewable energy at an unparalleled pace. With thoughtful policy support, the country is poised not only to achieve its clean energy targets but also to shape the global renewable transition in the decade ahead.
What are SECI’s future plans and targets?
Our focus now is on accelerating the next generation of solutions – firm, reliable and globally competitive green energy.
We are expanding our portfolio beyond conventional solar and wind to include large-scale hybrid projects, RTC renewable power, energy storage and green hydrogen and ammonia initiatives. These are the building blocks of a modern, resilient energy ecosystem.
Alongside project development, SECI is working to shape new market mechanisms and commercial models that can attract long-term investment, support emerging technologies and open pathways for green fuel exports. We are also rapidly ramping up our own project capacity.
Our broader goal is to ensure that India’s renewable growth story moves from scale to sophistication, delivering clean power that is not only affordable but also dependable, innovative and globally benchmarked.
In essence, SECI’s trajectory is aligned with India’s energy ambition: to lead the world’s clean energy transition with solutions that are future-ready, inclusive and transformative.
