Residential PV

“India is on track to achieve the milestone of 50% renewable energy share in its total installed power generation capacity by the end of the year,” said union power minister Manohar Lal Khattar at the 11th edition of India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025.

As India adds more intermittent renewables like solar and wind to its energy mix, modernising the electricity grid becomes a priority. Grid expansion, integration of battery storage systems, and digital monitoring tools are critical to accommodate fluctuations in generation and demand. 

Rajasthan led the annual solar additions with 6.5 GW, followed by Gujarat (3.6 GW) and Maharashtra (2.3 GW).

With Q1 FY26 additions, Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd has crossed the milestone of over two lakh rooftop solar installations, bringing its cumulative installed capacity to 3.4 GW.

A scientist in Turkey has simulated eight PV-supported hybrid atmospheric water harvesting systems and compared their performances. They were all considered to operate with R1233zd(E), R1234yf, and R600a, as well as R32 refrigerants. The required PV system size was as low as 20 m2.

India’s solar sector faces rising module costs due to recent developments, including the imposition of anti-dumping duties on solar glass and China’s reduction in export rebates on solar modules, impacting project viability. These shifts underline the delicate balance between promoting local manufacturing, pursuing geopolitical strategies, and navigating the economic realities of global trade.

New Swiss research shows PV-powered homes can increase power consumption by up to 11% compared to non-solar households. This rise is linked to electric vehicle adoption or other high-usage appliances, which the study’s author notes is not inherently negative or wasteful.

Researchers in India say that photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) systems offer greater performance stability than conventional PV systems in hot climates. Using irradiance and temperature data, the team applied a Random Forest model that predicted efficiency classes with 97% accuracy.

Swedish furniture retailer Ikea is selling plug-in solar kits in Germany, with storage-inclusive systems starting at €1,229 ($1,425) and reaching €2,800 for versions featuring four 520 W panels. The kits are designed for residential self-consumption and vary by capacity and configuration.

Without resilient, responsive, and renewable-ready transformer networks, India’s decarbonization goals risk being destabilized by the very variability they aim to harness.