Shakti Pumps Invests in 2.2 GW Solar Manufacturing Plant

Shakti Pumps (India) Limited has invested Rs 110 million in its wholly owned subsidiary, Shakti Energy Solutions Limited (SESL). This investment, made through the subscription of equity shares, is designated for the establishment of a new manufacturing facility in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh.

The greenfield plant will have a production capacity of 2.2 GW and will focus on manufacturing high-efficiency solar domestic content requirement (DCR) cells and solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. SESL, which currently produces solar structures and solar rooftop solutions, is expanding its operations to include these new product lines.

Clean Energy Surge Stabilizes India's Power Sector Emissions

A recent analysis reveals that power-sector emissions in India did not increase from the first half of 2024 to the same period in 2026. This marks the first time in over 50 years that the country's coal power did not expand over a two-year period, even as overall electricity demand grew by 7 percent. Clean energy sources met this entire demand increase, contributing an additional 63 terawatt-hours (TWh).

The growth in non-fossil power generation was substantial, with solar increasing by 44 TWh, wind by 13 TWh, hydro by 8 TWh, and nuclear power by 7 TWh. However, to sustain this pace of clean energy expansion, India will need to upgrade its electricity grid, rapidly develop energy storage solutions, and enhance the flexibility of its coal power infrastructure. Despite these advancements, emissions from heavy industry, particularly steel and cement, rose by 8 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026, accounting for 23 percent of India's total carbon dioxide emissions.

Coal Ministry Addresses Uttar Pradesh Power Shortage Claims

The coal ministry has dismissed reports attributing power shortages in Uttar Pradesh to coal supply disruptions. According to the ministry, no thermal plants in the state are currently in a "critical" fuel category, and daily coal supplies have surpassed average consumption since September 1.

Despite a captive coal mine being allocated to Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL) in Jharkhand 11 years ago, the state-run power generation company has not operationalized it. This lack of progress means Uttar Pradesh continues to depend on external sources for its coal requirements. The Saharpur Jamarpani block, allocated in August 2015 with over 973 million tonnes of reserves, was intended to secure long-term fuel for UPRVUNL's thermal projects.

The ministry noted that 14 other coal blocks allocated for captive use in the power sector since August 2015 have commenced production. It urged Uttar Pradesh to develop the Saharpur Jamarpani block to enhance fuel security and reduce reliance on external coal supplies. Current coal stocks at UPRVUNL's thermal plants stand at 8.4 lakh tonnes, an increase from 7.3 lakh tonnes on September 1, with average daily supply exceeding consumption. The ministry also indicated that operational constraints at generating stations, rather than coal availability, are contributing to lower generation, with the plant load factor at UPRVUNL's thermal power plants at approximately 48%.