Solar Doubles Share In India’s Renewable Power Generation In 4 Years
The rapid expansion in solar installed capacity in India has resulted in a similar increase in the share of electricity from these projects.
According to the Minister of Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy, electricity generated from solar power projects now accounts for 12.2% of the total electricity generated from all renewable energy projects in India.
Total electricity generated from renewable energy projects in India between 1 April and 30 September 2016 stood at 47,627 million kWh, of which 5,792 million kWh came from solar power projects. This translates into a share of 12.2%.
In comparison, between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016 65,781 million kWh electricity was generated by all renewable energy projects, including 7,448 million kWh from solar power projects, which is equivalent to 11.3% share.
During the financial year 2013-14, when just under 950 megawatts of solar power capacity was added to the grid, the share of solar power was 6.3% of all electricity generated from renewable energy projects.
This sharp increase in the share of solar power vis-a-vis total renewable energy generation is the result of higher solar power capacity addition compared to other renewable energy technologies. From just under 950 megawatts (MW) of solar power capacity added in FY2013-14, the sector saw an addition of more than 3,000 megawatts in FY2015-16.
Between 1 April to 31 October 2016 1,965 megawatts of solar power capacity had been added. The government has set a target of adding 12,000 megawatts in capacity between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017.
The share of solar power in total electricity from renewable energy projects as well as the overall power generated in India is expected to increase significantly over the next few years.
In the financial year 2017-18, a grid-connected solar power capacity addition target has been set at 15 gigwatt (GW), which will increase to 16 GW in the next financial year. Similarly, in FY2017-18, a wind energy capacity addition target has been set at 4.6 GW and will increase to 5.2 GW in the next financial year. Biomass-based power projects have been given targets of 750 MW and 850 MW in FY2017-18 and FY2018-19, respectively. The ministry has reduced the target of small hydro power capacity addition from current financial year’s 225 MW to 100 MW in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
India plans to have an installed solar power capacity of 100 GW and wind energy capacity of 60 GW by March 2022.
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