Solar Power Now India’s 2nd Largest Renewable Energy Technology
Solar power has overtaken biomass-based power generation to become India’s 2nd largest renewable energy technology in terms of installed capacity.
According to the latest data issued by the Indian Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, solar power’s installed capacity stood at 4,579 MW on 31 October, while biomass-based power generation capacity stood at 4,550 MW.
A total of 827 MW solar power capacity has been added in this financial year so far (April to October) against a full year target of 1,400 MW. In the biomass-based power sector, only 132 MW capacity was added during the first 7 month of the financial year against a full year target of 400 MW. Small hydro power installed capacity is right behind at 4,162 MW with 107 MW capacity added so far against a target of 250 MW.
Installed capacity in the solar power sector is expected to jump sharply over the next few months, and is expected to easily beat the target. Estimates on capacity additions remain extremely bullish, not only for the current year, but also for the next few years. The Ministry, in a document released earlier this year, stated that 4.3 GW capacity its expected to be commissioned during the next financial year ie, between April 2015 and March 2016. During the subsequent financial year, the ministry expects 10.8 GW capacity addition. Thus, India might have an installed solar power capacity of 19 GW by March 2017.
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Good to see some build up in the momentum for solar. Add 250 MW of rooftop added to this as well and we have almost 1100 MW added this fiscal.
While the state and central governments are on the job for utility scale, rooftop needs more of a push. Awareness is still low and the beneficial economics and policies need to be highlighted by authorities. If Industrial and commercial establishments get into the act, then the 100GW target by 2022 is definitely achievable.
Residential rooftops are costly and battery replacement after 3-4 years is also financially draining. Even after subsidy.
Improvement in battery tech is the the short to mid-term solution.
Are there any parts of India where electricity supply becomes reliable when the sun comes out due to these capacity additions?
No … Despite the constant headlines on this site solar is very small even at the local level .Rain for example has a much larger impact on making electricity reliable as the hydro powerplants run at capacity .
“Solar Power Now India’s 2nd Largest Renewable Energy Technology”
And By 2nd we mean 3rd if we bothered to fact check.
It would be good to know the total GWh produced from solar PV in 2015.