New solar deployment guidelines to strengthen India’s solar growth

• At the Renewable Energy India Expo (REI Expo) 2025, SolarPower Europe and the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) launched the second edition of their engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) guidelines for India.
• The revised guidelines were drafted by over 60 experts from the Indian and European solar industries, and supported by the Indo-German Energy Forum Support Office (IGEF-SO).
• The report tracks India’s solar growth, and outlines best practices to improve the quality of large-scale solar PV projects across the country.

GREATER NOIDA, India (Thursday 30th October): SolarPower Europe and NSEFI have jointly published their ‘Engineering, Procurement & Construction: Best Practice Guidelines India edition 2.0’ report. This new publication includes updated recommendations to reflect India’s unique market and business conditions, and rapid solar growth. 

The guidelines aim to increase transparency and establish common standards for everyone involved in building solar PV plants, from EPC contractors, to owners, investors, lenders, and technical experts.

Benjamin Clarke, Global Markets Manager at SolarPower Europe (he/him) said; “India is the world’s third-largest solar market, with over 100 GW of total solar power capacity. We’re proud of our long-standing partnership with NSEFI, and our work together on this report which will be a valuable resource for the Indian solar sector, and support the country’s solar journey.”

Subrahmanyam Pulipaka, Chief Executive Officer at NSEFI (he/him) said; “The launch of the EPC: Best Practice Guidelines India edition 2.0 Guidelines, developed in collaboration with SolarPower Europe and supported by the IGEF Support Office, is a defining step towards shaping the next phase of India’s renewable energy journey. This updated framework reflects our collective vision of building a world-class solar ecosystem rooted in quality, safety, and innovation.”

Tobias Winter, Director at Indo-German Energy Forum Support Office (he/him) said; “With India sprinting towards its fossil-free future, these guidelines arrive at a critical juncture, supporting the long-term resilience and efficiency of the country’s solar industry. By adapting proven European solar expertise to the Indian context, we can ensure that solar is not only just sustainable, but also secure and economically viable.”

Daniel Etschmann, Principal Technical Expert of Solar Energy at KfW (he/him) said; “SolarPower Europe and NSEFI’s guidelines lay a solid foundation for performance and reliability for India’s solar sector. It makes available all the learnings made from the developing sector in Europe and elsewhere. By facilitating smarter risk management, they’re opening the door for greater investment, creating confidence among investors and financiers, and accelerating the country’s transition towards a cleaner, more resilient energy future."

Building on the first Indian edition of the EPC Best Practice Guidelines, this latest version includes important updates, including a revised Health and Safety chapter which details key national legislation on occupational health and safety to ensure that EPC service providers are aware of their obligations towards their staff. 

With regards to financing, the guidelines highlight what bonds and bank guarantees EPC providers should issue.

Finally, the report emphasises the importance of integrating battery energy storage systems (BESS) during the EPC phase of a solar plant to ensure a secure, efficient operation and strengthen the broader Indian energy ecosystem.

Notes:

• SolarPower Europe’s Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2025–2029 provides an in-depth forecast and analysis of the global solar power sector, with a special focus on India’s rapid growth and emerging role as the world’s third-largest solar market. Read the report.

• In April 2025, SolarPower Europe and NSEFI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to unlock EU-India cooperation on solar manufacturing, and build more diversified and resilient value chains based on existing Clean Energy and Climate Partnership (CECP). This partnership started in December 2018, and is financed by the Partnership Instrument of the European Union, and managed by the Delegation of the European Union to India. The CECP was designed to enhance collaboration between the EU and India on clean energy, clean-tech supply chains, and climate change. The partnership aims to ensure a secure, clean, affordable, and reliable energy supply for all and make progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement. Read about the MoU signing.Read about the CECP.

IGEF-SO

IGEF-SO provides a dialogue platform for high-level policymakers, financial institutions, industry and research organisations to deepen and enhance the bilateral cooperation for the energy transition in Germany and India.

KfW 

KfW is one of the world’s leading promotional banks. KfW has been committed to improving economic, social and environmental living conditions across the globe on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany and the federal states since 1948. To do this, it provided funds totalling EUR 112.8 billion in 2024 alone.

NSEFI 

NSEFI has been India’s leading renewable energy policy advocacy body for the past decade and is an umbrella organisation representing renewable energy companies that are active along the whole renewable energy value chain. The organisation comprises of leading international, national, and regional companies including developers, manufacturers, EPC contractors, installers, system integrators, small and medium enterprises etc.

Renewable Energy India Expo (REI Expo)

The REI Expo, organised by Informa Markets, is India’s most influential platform in solar energy, bio-energy, wind, energy storage, green hydrogen, and e‑mobility. As Asia’s leading clean energy exhibition, REI Expo continues to advance India’s renewable energy transition.

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