ACME Solar Expands India Hybrid Power Project With 66.68 MW Capacity Addition

An additional 66.68 MW of solar generating capacity has entered commercial operation at Kelan village in Rajasthan's Bikaner district, where ACME Solar Holdings Limited is executing its first hybrid renewable energy project.

The capacity was commissioned through the company's subsidiary, ACME Renewtech Private Limited, on 5 October 2026, and the commercial operation date was designated as 7 October 2026.

Second Phased Block Reaches Commercial Operation in Bikaner

The commissioning takes the project's cumulative operational solar capacity to 133.36 MW, out of a planned 300 MW solar component. That figure represents approximately 44.45% completion of the solar portion of the development.

The latest block follows an initial 66.68 MW phase, which was commissioned in September 2026. Taken together, the two phases now account for the full 133.36 MW of solar capacity currently in operation at the site.

Why the Capacity Is Being Brought Online in Stages

Rather than energising the entire solar installation at once, ACME Renewtech is developing and operationalising the capacity in stages.

Under this approach, completed sections of the plant undergo testing, grid synchronisation and commercial operation while construction proceeds elsewhere on the site. The staged model carries several operational implications.

Generating units that have been completed can begin supplying electricity and, subject to their contractual and regulatory arrangements, potentially generating revenue earlier than would be the case under a single-point commissioning schedule.

It also allows project teams to assess equipment performance, communication systems, and protection settings progressively before further generating capacity is integrated.

Bringing a block to commercial operation is not a simple task. Successful commissioning depends on coordination across solar modules, inverters, electrical collection networks, substations, metering equipment, and the grid connection infrastructure.

The declaration of commercial operation therefore stands as a significant project milestone, signalling that a defined capacity block has met the applicable operational requirements.

A 400 MW Hybrid Scheme Anchored by NTPC offtake and PFC Financing

The Kelan solar development is one component of a wider hybrid project comprising 300 MW of solar and 100 MW of wind capacity, for a total planned hybrid generation capacity of 400 MW.

A power purchase agreement for the project has been signed with NTPC Limited, while long-term financing has been arranged through Power Finance Corporation. The pairing of solar and wind generation at a single site is intended to produce a more diversified renewable electricity supply profile.

Solar output is concentrated primarily in daylight hours, while wind generation depends on local wind conditions and may contribute during other periods.

Combining the two resources can reduce reliance on a single source of renewable generation, though the extent of any improvement in supply consistency depends on resource availability, the project's configuration, forecasting accuracy, and prevailing grid conditions.

Remaining Capacity and the Stated Completion Timeline

The 133.36 MW now in operation leaves roughly 166.64 MW of the solar component still to be commissioned. In September 2026, ACME Solar indicated that it expected to complete commissioning of the full 300 MW solar capacity by the end of the third quarter of FY2026–27.

The October commissioning advances the project towards that stated target, although completion of the remaining capacity will depend on subsequent construction, testing, and regulatory clearances. For Rajasthan, the development adds to the phased build-out of utility-scale renewable energy infrastructure in the state.

With a second 66.68 MW block now operating and a power purchase agreement in place with NTPC Limited, the Kelan project continues to move through its construction and commissioning sequence under the financing framework provided by Power Finance Corporation.

The next steps will centre on bringing the remaining solar capacity online, followed by the 100 MW wind component that will complete the 400 MW hybrid configuration.