ACME Solar Holdings Ltd
Q1 FY25 Earnings Call Analysis
Power
fundraise: Yescapex: Yesrevenue: Category 2margin: Category 3orderbook: No information
💰fundraise
Any current/future new fundraising through debt or equity?
- ACME Solar has secured debt financing of around INR16,500 crores for 1,700 MW of under-construction projects.
- The INR16,500 crores refers solely to debt; equity funding is supplemented by internal accruals and unutilized credit lines (~INR4,000 crores equity).
- The company does not intend to raise further equity to fund capex; capex will be scheduled based on existing financial resources.
- Refinancing sanctions of INR7,700 crores at reduced interest rates (around 8.5%-8.6%) were obtained to lower cost of debt.
- No explicit mention of new fundraising plans beyond this; focus is on optimizing existing financing and staggered commissioning aligned with PPA timings.
- The company aims to be financially prudent, not building plants unless debt financing is secured, minimizing risk exposure.
🏗️capex
Any current/future capex/capital investment/strategic investment?
- Capex of around INR 20,000 crores planned, funded by INR 16,500 crores debt and ~INR 4,000 crores equity (from cash accruals and unutilized credit lines).
- Focus on executing large infrastructure projects requiring contiguous land; efforts ongoing to secure government land to improve execution capacity.
- Capex locked-in for batteries at prices well below initial budget, with Tier 1 Chinese suppliers and currency hedges in place.
- Strategic investments in equipment including PCS, transmission lines, transformers, wind turbines, and gas-insulated substations for improved reliability and efficiency.
- Building operational and near-commissioning projects, targeting increased capacity to 10 GW by FY '30, staggered yearly for balanced execution.
- No capex on Pumped Storage Plants (PSP) until a good tariff aligned with construction risk is secured.
- Pilot Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project of 200 MW targeted for Q2; larger scale BESS projects planned for Q3 commissioning.
📊revenue
Future growth expectations in sales/revenue/volumes?
- ACME Solar targets a contracted capacity of 7 GW by FY '27-'28 and aims for 10 GW by FY '30, combining FDRE (Firm Delivery Renewable Energy) and hybrid projects.
- Revenue growth is expected from commissioning near-ready projects totaling 450 MW in FY '26 and about 1.89-2.2 GW in FY '27.
- The company focuses on profitability over just installed capacity, with installed capacity potentially over 20 GW including battery and solar.
- Increasing focus on technology innovation and execution to meet India's growing energy demand, especially base and peaking power via FDRE and hybrid solutions.
- Financial prudence with no intent to raise further equity; capex scheduled as per secured PPAs and balanced year-wise commissioning.
- Expansion aided by free cash flows, EPC margins, and credit lines supporting INR 20,000 crores capex.
- Continued increase in capacity utilization factor (CUF) expected due to Rajasthan focus and full-run operations of new plants.
📈margin
Future growth expectations in earnings/operating earnings/profits/EPS?
- ACME Solar targets reaching around 10 GW contracted capacity by FY '30, expanding from 2.7 GW operational currently, with 3.5-4.5 GW capacity additions planned by FY '27-'28.
- FY '26 capacity addition expected around 450 MW; FY '27 approximately 1.89-2.2 GW, primarily backed by signed PPAs.
- EBITDA is expected to improve with capacity additions; FY '25 EBITDA was INR 1,400 crores with an 89% margin, showing strong growth (up 43% YoY).
- PAT and cash PAT saw significant growth in FY '25, up 290% and 155% respectively, signaling improving profitability.
- Cost of debt expected to decline gradually due to credit rating improvements and lower interest rates, aiding better financials.
- The company emphasizes financial prudence; no major equity raise planned, relying on cash accruals and financing for capex.
- Operational efficiency improvements and capacity utilization factor gains (25.6% to improving further) indicate future profit growth potential.
📋orderbook
Current/ Expected Orderbook/ Pending Orders?
- Under construction locked-in capacity stands at 4.3 GW.
- Of this, around 2.2 GW is already PPA signed.
- Balance 2.1 GW are LOA awarded, with PPA signing expected soon.
- Bunching up of PPA signing expected; around three PPAs aggregating to ~750 MW are in the final stage and expected to be signed soon.
- Tariff adopted and order reserved for over 90% of the 4.3 GW under construction projects.
- Connectivity in place for the entire portfolio plus surplus connectivity of 2.5 GW applied/secured for future bids.
- Land acquisition: over 50% for solar components, over 60% for wind components for PPA signed projects.
- Additional land applications for over 10,000 acres in various approval stages to support under-construction and future projects.
