Slow progress in renewable energy capacity addition

August 29, 2014 11:18 pm | Updated 11:18 pm IST - CHENNAI:

DINDIGUL, TAMILNADU, 06/08/2014: Solar panels installed at Sourastra Corporation Primary School at Nagal Nagar, in Dindigul.
PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN

DINDIGUL, TAMILNADU, 06/08/2014: Solar panels installed at Sourastra Corporation Primary School at Nagal Nagar, in Dindigul. PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN

Renewable energy sector in the country still appears to be riding in the slow growth trajectory as the new capacity addition during the current fiscal has been lower when compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.

The sector has added 722 MW of new capacity during the first four months of this fiscal against 835 MW added during the same period in the previous fiscal.

The industry missed the capacity addition target for the second consecutive year in 2013-14. For the present fiscal, annual capacity target has been lowered to 3,770 MW from 4,325 MW set for the previous year.

Of the 722 MW, wind sector contributed about 561 MW (608 MW), while the rest was contributed by solar, bagasse, co-generation and small hydro at 106 MW (153 MW), 32 MW (nil) and 22.5 MW (74.5 MW), respectively, according to Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The cumulative grid-interactive renewable energy installed capacity stood at 32,424 MW on July 31, 2014.

Presently, wind makes up 67 per cent of India’s total green power installed capacity. Of the total capacity of 32.4 GW, wind sector contributed 21.7 GW, followed by small hydro power at 3.8 GW, solar at 2.7 GW, bagasse cogeneration power at 2.7 GW, biomass at 1.4 GW, and waste energy at 107 GW.

It may be noted that the Union Finance Ministry has not acted upon the recommendations by the Union Ministry of Commerce for levying anti-dumping duties on import of solar cells and modules.

As no official communication was issued by the Finance Ministry, the deadline of August 22 for deciding on duties had gone by.

Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of State of Power, Coal & MNRE, in the meanwhile, has assured solar manufacturers that whatever capacities are available for domestic cell and modules in the country, adequate market would be made available so that they can not only run to full capacity but also ramp up the production.

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