Introduction

India’s transition towards renewable energy has moved from a scale-driven expansion phase to a more disciplined and execution-focused direction. It has been seen in last few that aggressive tender issuance has been followed by a correction phase which has aligned towards more demand and a structurally mature tender ecosystem.

Government-led tenders remain the primary mechanism for capacity allocation across solar, wind, hybrid, and energy storage segments.

Policy Backbone & Market Structure

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy runs the show when it comes to India’s renewable energy tenders. Earlier, there was talk of aiming for 50 GW every year, but those fixed targets just didn’t last beyond 2025. There has been a change as now the market is moving toward tenders driven by actual demand, mostly because of delays in execution and issues with buyers taking up the power.

There are various tendering agencies. The key tender agencies include:

• Solar Energy Corporation of India

• NTPC Limited

• NHPC Limited

• SJVN Limited

As per recent government disclosures, India’s renewable energy capacity is ~220 GW (excluding large hydro), with additional capacity when large hydro is included. Exact totals vary across sources and reporting periods, so approximate values are referred.

Recent Tender Trends (2023–March 2026)

Note: The following figures are based on MNRE disclosures, agency announcements, and industry research estimates.

2023–2024: High-Volume Tendering Phase

India witnessed record renewable energy tender issuance during this period: As per data, it has been determined that approximately 50–58 GW tenders were issued in 2023, and later in 2024, there was increase, reaching around 70–73 GW, which was the peak issuance year.  This phase was majorly driven by policies, central agency auctions, and large-scale solar and hybrid bids.

2025: Correction Phase

The marketplace has slowed considerably since 2025, which has been termed the "correction phase" with about 15 GW of Tenders (actual awards) plus 40-43GW of Tenders that remain either unsold or delayed due primarily to issues related to a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) and offtake agreements. The result is the inability of the market to absorb the amount of capacity that has been announced.

This shows the fundamental disconnect that exists between the amount of capacity that has been announced and the amount of capacity that will ultimately be absorbed by demand.

2026 (Till March): Demand-aligned Tendering

By 2025, market conditions are generally more measured-and-demand-oriented than in previous periods:

• No annual target levels for fixed tenders
• Increased reliance on demand visibility with respect to DISCOM
• An increasing number of RTC (round-the-clock), hybrid and storage-based tenders

Recently, most of the activity (~1.0 GWs) has come from RTC tenders from the Solar Energy Corporation of India - indicative of the push for more firm and dispatchable renewable energy.State-wise & Regional Tender Directory

North-West Region: Solar Power Core

Rajasthan

India’s largest renewable tender hub, driven by solar parks, ISTS-connected projects, and hybrid bids.

• Tenders Allocated: ~8–10 GW

• Awarded: ~6–8 GW

• Total Installed: 20+ GW

Gujarat

Strong in execution, with consistent solar park development and EPC-linked tenders.

• Tenders Allocated: ~25–30 GW
• Capacity Awarded: ~18–22 GW
• Commissioned / Under Execution: 30+ GW

Southern Region: Wind & Hybrid Leadership

Tamil Nadu

A leading wind energy state, now increasingly focused on hybrid and firm renewable tenders.

• Tenders Allocated: ~20–25 GW

• Awarded: ~15–20 GW

• Total Installed: 33+ GW

Karnataka

Sustained solar and hybrid tender activity with strong grid connectivity.

• Tenders Allocated: ~10–12 GW
• Awarded: ~8–10 GW
• Total Installed: 25+ GW

Andhra Pradesh

Moderate recovery with selective solar and wind tender participation.

• Tenders Allocated: ~10–12 GW

• Awarded: ~8–10 GW

• Total Installed: 23–24 GW 

Central & Northern Region

Madhya Pradesh

Emerging solar hub benefiting from land availability and central grid access.

• Tenders Allocated: ~4–6 GW
•  Awarded: ~3–5 GW
• Total Installed: 10–12 GW
  

Uttar Pradesh

Demand-driven solar tenders aligned with consumption centers.

• Tenders Allocated: ~4–6 GW
• Awarded: ~3–5 GW
• Total Installed: 10–12 GW 

Western Industrial Belt

Maharashtra

Moderate activity driven by industrial demand and hybrid energy requirements.

Tenders Allocated: ~3–5 GW

Awarded: ~2–4 GW

Total Installed: 6–8 GW

Eastern Region

Odisha

An emerging market with growing interest in energy storage and industrial renewable integration.

• Tenders Allocated: ~8–10 GW
• Awarded: ~6–8 GW
• Total Installed: 20+ GW

State-wise Tender Snapshot

Segment Shift: Solar to Hybrid & Storage

India’s renewable tender mix is evolving toward more balanced and reliable power solutions:

• Solar: ~50–60%

• Hybrid: ~25–30%

• Storage: ~5–10% (fastest growing segment)

This reflects a clear transition toward firm, dispatchable, and grid-compatible renewable energy.

Key Challenges

• Delayed execution of Power Purchase Agreements
• Financial issues faced by DISCOMS and the subsequent associated risks to pay
• Constraints involving transmission to remote locations
• Intense competition at the tariff level compromises the feasibility of projects

The challenge has changed how tenders have been designed and how bidders have chosen to participate.

Key Market Insight

Moving from Capacity-Based to Demand-Based Market

India’s renewable tendering ecosystem is undergoing a fundamental transition from being capacity-led to being based upon demand through the following mechanisms:

• demand-based tendering;
• storage-based project development;
• focusing on the delivery of projects; and,
• increased focus on grid readiness.

Conclusion

By March of 2026, the Indian solar renewable tender market will reflect a more realistic, execution-ready environment than at any time in recent history. Solar tenders will continue to be led by Rajasthan and Gujarat provinces in north-west India, while wind and hybrid tenders will be led by southern states/provinces. Newer, faster-growing provinces like Odisha will see increasing activity with respect to storage systems and next-generation energy systems. For businesses looking to be engaged and successful, the key will continue to be tracking live tenders, concentrating on the higher activity regions, and aligning with India's demand-led renewable transition.