India Achieved the 20 GW Solar Mark in 2017

The Government of India has set a target of 175 GW renewable power installed capacity by the end of 2022 – including 60 GW from wind power, 100 GW from solar power, 10 GW from biomass power and 5 GW from small hydropower.

We all know that India achieved the 20 GW mark of solar installations in the last year. Let us take a deeper look at the steps taken by the Ministry in helping the sector reach new heights. A target of 14,550 MW grid renewable power – wind 4000 MW, solar 10000 MW, small hydropower 200 MW, bio-power 340 MW and waste to power 10 MW was set for 2017-18.

1. A target of 10,000 MW was set for 2017-18
2. A total of 23,656 MW was tendered, out of which LOI was issued for  19,340 MW.
3. The capacity of the scheme for “Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects” was doubled to 40, 000 MW from the earlier 20,000 MW. Three new solar parks with total capacities exceeding 1500 MW have been approved at Rajasthan, Gujarat and Mizoram after the issue of this guideline.
4. 35 solar parks of total capacity 20,514 MW have been approved in 21 States. Kurnool Solar Park in Andhra Pradesh with 1000 MW capacity, 650 MW Bhadla Phase-II Solar Park in Rajasthan and 250 MW in Phase –I of Neemuch Mandsaur Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh has already been commissioned.
5. Over 41.80 lakh solar lighting systems, 1.42 lakh solar pumps, and power packs of 181.52 MW have been installed in the country as of November 2017.
6. Ministry is implementing grid-connected rooftop and small solar power plants program which provides for installation of 2100 MW capacity through central financial assistance (CFA) and other incentives in the residential, social, Government/PSU and Institutional sectors. CFA will be provided up to 30% of benchmark in the general category states and up to 70% of the benchmark cost in special category states.
7. Concessional loans of $ 1,375 million from World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and New Development Bank (NDB) have been provided to leading Indian PSU banks like State Bank of India for promoting rooftop solar projects in India.
8. Solar tariff reached record a low of INR 2.44 /kWh.

Read more: State Wise Solar State Rankings – India 2017-18

India Becomes the 4th Largest country By Wind Capacity

Similarly, in wind power capacity too, India attained the 4^thposition globally, after China, USA, and Germany. Currently, the wind power installed capacity is 32.75 GW in the country.

1. After a re-assessment by the National Institute for Wind Energy (NIWE), the wind power potential of the country has been estimated to be 302 GW at 100 meter hub-height.
2. During 2017-18, a total 467.11 MW wind capacity has been added till November 2017.
3. The cabinet has cleared the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy to identify Indian coasts for developing offshore wind power projects.
4. Bidding guidelines for wind auction have also been notified to the Ministry of Power.
5. The second wind auction of 1000 MW resulted in lowest tariffs of INR 2.64/ unit.

With 60.98 GW installed renewable power capacity, the renewable power accounts for 18.4% of the total installed capacity currently.