Around 293 global and domestic companies have committed to generate 266 GW of solar, wind, mini-hydel and biomass-based power in India over the next 5–10 years. The initiative would entail an investment of about US$ 310–350 billion.
Between April 2000 and March 2017, the industry attracted US$ 11.59 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Some major investments and developments in the Indian power sector are as follows:
• International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank Group, is planning to invest about US$ 6 billion through 2022 in several sustainable and renewable energy programmes in India.
• GE Energy Financial Services (GEEFS) plans to invest US$ 90 million to develop a solar power project of 500 megawatt (MW) in partnership with Rattan India Group.
• Greenko Energy Holdings has raised US$ 155 million from its existing investors, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, which will be utilised for expanding its clean energy portfolio to 3 gigawatts (GW) from 2 GW at present.
• Private equity (PE) investment firm, Actis LLP, is planning to invest about US$ 500 million in Solenergi Power Pvt Ltd, its second renewable energy platform in India.
• Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd is planning to invest in high-end electric powertrain technology in a move towards the future of mobility as well as for the electrification of its existing and future line-up of products.
• Hero Future Energies Pvt Ltd is planning to foray into the battery storage business and set up solar charging stations for electric vehicles (EV) in India to capitalise on India’s emerging EV market.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Punjab National Bank (PNB) have signed a financing loan worth US$ 100 million.
• Tata Capital Ltd and International Finance Corporation (IFC) have invested Rs 200 crore (US$ 31.05 million) in their joint venture (JV), Tata Cleantech Capital Ltd (TCCL), to increase its loan book for investing in renewable energy projects.
• CDC Group Plc, a development finance institution, plans to set up its own renewable energy platform in the eastern states of India like Bihar, Odisha and Assam, and other neighbouring countries to focus on developing hundreds of megawatts (MWs) of high-quality greenfield generational capacity.
• Japan’s JERA Co. Inc, has acquired a 10 per cent stake in ReNew Power Ventures for US$ 200 million, valuing the company at US$ 2 billion.
• The Indian Railways is looking to award six tenders worth Rs 8000 crore (US$ 1.2 billion), for setting up of a country-wide electricity transmission network, as part of a strategy to reduce electricity bills.
• Renewable energy company ReNew Power has announced securing US$ 390 million debt funding from its existing investor Asian Development Bank (ADB) for developing and expanding capacities of 709 megawatt (MW) across various states of India.
• International Finance Corporation (IFC), along with IFC Global Infrastructure Fund, the private equity fund of IFC Asset Management Company, has announced investment of US$ 125 million equity in Hero Future Energies.
Source: IBEF
