India’s Latest Solar Additions

Another year is coming to an end! And India’s huge solar power target looms in its face. However, the Indian Solar Energy is blazing guns on all fronts. India’s aggressive 100 GW solar installation target by 2022 is huge by all means. The Indian government is, therefore, trying to establish various rules and norms to achieve this target.

The month of December marked several major milestones in India with the nation’s largest floating solar plant (in Kerala) and International Solar Alliance opening this month.

The International Solar Alliance which came into effect this December is all set to announce its first global tender for supplying 300,000 solar pumps over the next three months in India, Bangladesh and Mauritius. The International Solar Alliance aims to promote affordable solar-powered electricity to its members (ratified by 19 countries) through global tenders and cheap financing. The ISA is targeting to mobilize $1 trillion of low-cost financing for solar energy by 2030.

Maharashtra energy minister is also looking at plans for supplying solar power not only for farmers but also schools, targeting to supply solar energy to about 40 lakh farmers for about 12 hours every day. The funds for the purpose will be allocated under the ‘Mukhyamantri Krishi Sanjivani Yojana’. A pilot run in this regard has already begun.

In news of electrifying government schools by solar power, the Haryana government has decided to install hybrid solar systems in a phased manner. It is estimated that a cost of INR 236.57 crore will be undertaken to solarize 3,222 government high and senior secondary schools. To ensure uninterrupted supply of power at schools, a battery bank of 7.2 VAh/Wp will also be installed.

Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport also commissioned 15MW ground mounted grid connected solar plant, the largest by capacity, among all Indian AAI airports. The airport is planning to use it for its day to day operation, which is around 10-11 MW per day. Any excess power will be injected into CESC’s DISCOM grid. The total cost of the project was INR 90 crore and the installation was finished in six months.