Energetica India Magazine March - April 2026

FEATURE STORY energetica INDIA- Mar-Apr_2026 38 Jogendra Behera, Head, Policy, Regulatory & Non-Utility Markets, Apraava Energy, feels that many large C&I consumers now want not just partial solarisation, but a larger share of annual electricity consumption covered through re- newable power, along with better Mrigesh Kejriwal, Head – Asset Management, Fourth Partner En- ergy, agrees, “For many organisa- tions, this shift is also aligned with global sustainability commitments such as RE100, which mandates sourcing 100 percent of electricity from renewable energy. Open access Kartikeya Narain Sharma, Co-fou- nder and Chief Business Officer, Sunsure Energy, explains, “When a large-scale industry wants to adopt renewable energy at scale, they are faced by the classic busi- ness question – ‘build or buy?’ If they want to ‘build’ the RE proj - Anil Bhat, Director – Business De- velopment, Hexa Climate, remarks, “For any serious industrial consum- er with a load of a few megawatts or more, rooftop simply cannot move the needle on energy costs or decarbonisation targets. Open ac - cess gives you scale, better tariffs, Akshat Jain, CEO, KLK Ventures, emphasises, “Rooftop solar remains preferred for businesses with avail- able roof space, simpler internal energy management, and a desire for onsite energy security. It also continues to appeal where net me- tering policies are strong, or for or- long-term tariff visibility. “In addition, emerging procure- ment structures such as Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs) and Contracts for Difference (CfDs) are gaining traction, particularly among large corporates and data cen- tres. These instruments allow consumers to hedge power price volatility and meet sustainability targets without be- ing constrained by physical delivery, thereby complementing open access procurement,” he elucidates. projects, with their ability to deliver utility-scale power, are emerging as the most effective pathway to meet these ambi- tious targets.” ect for themselves, this would require them to build a fully owned open access plant, including land acquisition, getting grid connectivity permissions and the construction and and the ability to source wind and hybrid power – not just daytime solar. That changes the equation entirely. For large C&I players with RE100 commitments or serious cost pres- sures, open access is no longer optional; it’s the only lever that moves fast enough.” ganisations emphasising visible sustainability initiatives on their facilities.” Kejriwal adds, “RTS continues to play a meaningful role, particularly for SMEs, hospitals, malls, and IT parks where rooftop space is available, and energy demand is moderate. RTS offers behind-the-meter savings, avoids transmission and wheeling charges, and can be deployed relatively quick- ly.” Increasingly, the transition is not about replacement but pro- gression, with many consumers adopting a hybrid approach – using rooftop for optimisation and open access for scale, states Hiranandani. Captive vs Group Captive vs Third Party Open Access: The Pre- ferred Procurement Model There are mainly three procurement models for the C&I con- sumers to source renewable energy: captive, group captive and third party PPAs. Procurement models shape both proj - ect economics and regulatory exposure. He further adds that open access addresses this gap by en- abling access to utility-scale renewable energy through long- term arrangements that offer both cost efficiency and tariff predictability. “More importantly, it allows industries to align with evolving ESG commitments and global supply chain ex- pectations, where the ability to demonstrate large-scale re- newable adoption is becoming critical,” shares Hiranandani. The Relevance of Rooftop Solar in the C&I Segment However, rooftop solar remains relevant for consumers with adequate roof space, steady daytime load, and moderate de- mand, offering simple, on-site generation without open-access complexities – especially suited for commercial buildings, MS- MEs, warehouses, and institutions, asserts Behera.