Renewable energy sector in the country missed capacity addition target for the second year in a row. As against the target of 4325 mw, the new capacity addition stood at 3640 mw. But, the year saw cumulative installed capacity in the green energy sector cross 30,000 mw.
All segments such as wind, solar, small hydro, biomass and waste-to-power added lower than their annual targets. Solar added 962 mw as against 1100 mw, while wind segment’s capacity addition stood at 2083 mw as against the target of 2500 mw.
Overall, wind sector contributed 2500 mw, while the rest was contributed by solar, small hydro, bagasse co-generation, biomass and waste-to power at 1100 mw, 300 mw, 300 mw, 105 mw and 20 mw respectively in 2013-14. Besides, 145 mw of off-grid/ captive power generation capacity from different renewable energy sources were added during the year, according to Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
As of March 31, 2014, total grid-interactive installed capacity in the renewable energy sector stood at 31,707 mw. Total installed capacity of wind stood at 21,136 mw. Small hydro occupied the second position with 3,803 mw capacity. Bagasse generation, solar, biomass and waste-to-power accounted for 2648 mw, 2647 mw, 1365 mw and 107 mw respectively.
In FY13, India missed the green energy target despite strong contribution from solar. But lapse of incentive scheme and uncertainties over policy framework hit the capacity addition in the wind sector.
“The wind energy based capacity addition during FY 2013 had fallen sharply on account of discontinuation of tax depreciation benefits, lack of clarity on continuation of generation based incentives (GBI), besides issues related to grid connectivity & evacuation of wind power in states like Tamil Nadu. Recovery in wind capacity addition in FY2014 was aided by the re-introduction of generation-based incentive (GBI) scheme in September 2013, according to rating agency Icra.
