Country’s renewable energy sector has reported significant growth in new capacity addition during the first half of this fiscal.
The sector added 1,629 MW of new capacity from various sources during April-September 2015 as against 1,094 MW in the same period previous year, posting a rise of about 49 per cent. Besides, 58 MW of off-grid/ captive power generation capacity was also added during the period.
During H1 of this fiscal, wind sector contributed about 933 MW (865 MW in H1 of last year) and solar sector added 593 MW (135 MW), while the rest was contributed by small hydro and waste-to-power segments at 92 MW and 12 MW respectively, according to Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
With the capacity addition in H1, India’s cumulative grid-interactive renewable energy installed capacity stood at 37,414 MW as on September 30, 2015.
Overall, wind sector accounted for 65 per cent (24,376 MW) of India’s total green power installed capacity. Solar has contributed 4,345 MW. Bio-power (comprising biomass and gasification and bagasse cogeneration), small hydro and waste to power contributed 4419 MW, 4147 MW and 127 MW respectively.
Meanwhile, the first half capacity addition was only about 37 per cent of the target set for this fiscal.
The government has fixed capacity addition target of 4,460 MW for this fiscal. Of this, wind is expected to contribute 2,400 MW, followed by solar (1400 MW), small hydro (250 MW), Bio-power (400) and waste-to-power (10MW).
However, going by the data a provided by MNRE on upcoming solar capacities under various schemes, it is estimated that solar sector itself may see an addition of over 4000 MW by March 2016, which will be the highest ever annual addition of capacity in the segment.
In 2014-15, renewable sector surpassed the target after missing the capacity addition target in the previous two years. Share of renewable energy in overall power capacity addition in the country was 15 per cent.
“India has among the highest solar market potential and has a pipeline of 15 GW of solar capacity that is expected to catapult it to the third largest global solar market over the next two years. Through various policy measures such as reverse auctions and government owned solar parks, India has been able to bring down the cost of solar power and address some daunting operational challenges. These policy measures mean that India can showcase solar, in particular, to emerging markets and lead the way in sector development,” according to Tobias Engelmeier, Founder, Bridge to India, solar energy consulting firm.
“However, India needs to build expertise in low cost manufacturing, grid-integration of renewables and smart grid management. Coordinating R&D efforts and coming up with a credible technology sharing process can bring measurable benefits for all stakeholders,” he added.
