India’s solar capacity: Milestones and challenges
2 years, 9 months ago

India’s solar capacity: Milestones and challenges

The Hindu  

The story so far: India added a record 10 Gigawatt of solar energy to its cumulative installed capacity in 2021. This is a milestone in India’s journey towards generating 500 GW from renewable energy by 2030, of which 300 GW is expected to come from solar power. India’s capacity additions rank the country fifth in solar power deployment, contributing nearly 6.5% to the global cumulative capacity of 709.68 GW. Despite significant growth in the installed solar capacity, the contribution of solar energy to the country’s power generation has not grown at the same pace. India could look at developing appropriate guidelines around Extended Producer Responsibility, which means holding manufacturers accountable for the entire life cycle of solar PV products and creating standards for waste recycling.

Energy Solar Power Solar Energy Rts Solar Capacity Power India 50 Gw Solar Pv Waste Pv Waste  solar  capacity  power  india  challenges  indias  milestones  rts  energy  pv  waste  gw

History of this topic

House panel calls for single-window system, template for power purchase pacts
4 days, 9 hours ago

House panel calls for single-window system, template for power purchase pacts

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha’s Estimates Committee has recommended that the renewable energy ministry come up with a single-window system and develop standardized power purchase agreement templates while setting definite timelines for various approvals to expedite the signing of such pacts. The panel, in its latest report tabled in Lok Sabha, has said that the Union ministry of new and …

India’s renewable energy capacity addition doubled to 15 GW in Apr-Nov: Pralhad Joshi
6 days, 16 hours ago

India’s renewable energy capacity addition doubled to 15 GW in Apr-Nov: Pralhad Joshi

Live Mint  

New Delhi, Dec 17 India's renewable energy capacity addition almost doubled to 15GW during the April-November period of this fiscal compared a year ago, indicating India's commitment towards the target of 500GW non-fossil capacity by 2030, Union New & Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Tuesday. Addressing at CII International Energy Conference & Exhibition 2024 here, Joshi said, "In …

Experts lay down circularity plan for 7 key sectors in India to cut waste
6 days, 19 hours ago

Experts lay down circularity plan for 7 key sectors in India to cut waste

Hindustan Times  

Solar waste is expected to increase three times to reach 340 kt by 2030, analysis by India’s G20 Secretariat, Council on Energy Environment and Water, RMI, World Resources Institute along with authors from several think tanks said. “Unlocking India’s Circular Waste Economy Potential for Sustainability” captures how this waste can be utilised in seven key sectors including: solar panels, batteries, …

Data dive: Dark clouds hover over India’s solar story
1 week ago

Data dive: Dark clouds hover over India’s solar story

Live Mint  

Recent charges of bribery by a US government agency against the Adani Group and its leadership have cast an unexpected spotlight on the Solar Energy Corporation of India—until now a relatively unknown company run by the central government. Solar’s share of electricity generated from renewable sources has Widening gap Of the 66 GW of solar power capacity installed as of …

Gujarat leads India in solar rooftop installations under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Gujarat leads India in solar rooftop installations under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

New Indian Express  

As part of its ambitious renewable energy goals, the Union Government aims to achieve 1 crore rooftop solar installations in the residential sector by 2027. A senior official remarked, “The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana aligns with India’s broader goals of transitioning to clean energy, reducing carbon emissions, and empowering citizens with affordable and sustainable power. This initiative will …

How well the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, a solar revolution, is faring across India
1 month, 2 weeks ago

How well the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, a solar revolution, is faring across India

India Today  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious PM Surya Ghar Yojana is bringing significant relief to residents across India through solar power subsidies and installations. The power department also gave their full support.” Surendra, who works as a teacher, installed a 3 KW solar panel for Rs 1.8 lakh and got a subsidy of Rs 1.08 lakh. He spoke about the installation …

India's Solar Imports to Soar to $30B by 2030
2 months ago

India's Solar Imports to Soar to $30B by 2030

Deccan Chronicle  

India's solar imports could surge to $30B by 2030 due to the country's reliance on imports. The country installed 15 GW of solar capacity in FY 2024, raising the total capacity to 90.8 GW by September 2024. However, to meet its 2030 goal of 500 GW in renewable energy, India needs to add 65-70 GW each year. India needs to …

Karnataka to be a key driver of India’s transition to clean energy: Study
3 months, 1 week ago

Karnataka to be a key driver of India’s transition to clean energy: Study

New Indian Express  

BENGALURU: Karnataka is set to be a major driver in India’s low-cost clean energy transformation, while ranking second in green hydrogen production and with the highest wind energy potential in the country. A study published on Tuesday by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water one of Asia’s leading research institutions and climate think-tanks states that with a green hydrogen …

India’s renewable energy target may prove elusive without course correction
3 months, 1 week ago

India’s renewable energy target may prove elusive without course correction

Live Mint  

India’s energy transition will be centred around the use of solar photovoltaic technology for at least the next 25 years. Though this information is not yet available in the public domain, it is estimated that Solar Energy Corporation Of India and other RE implementing agencies have about 18GW of ‘unsold inventory.’ Discoms in India face three major difficulties: huge uncertainty …

India has pushed hard for solar. But as its billions demand more power, coal always gets the call
4 months, 2 weeks ago

India has pushed hard for solar. But as its billions demand more power, coal always gets the call

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — India Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the midst of a monthslong reelection campaign this April when he took to social media to trumpet a “remarkable feat!” and a “historic milestone” for his country: crossing 1 billion metric tons of coal and lignite production. It was proof, Modi said, of India’s “commitment to ensuring a vibrant coal …

India's solar output grows at slowest pace in six years in first half of 2024
5 months, 2 weeks ago

India's solar output grows at slowest pace in six years in first half of 2024

Hindustan Times  

By Sudarshan Varadhan and Cassandra Yap India's solar output grows at slowest pace in six years in first half of 2024 SINGORE, - India's solar power generation grew at the slowest pace in six years in the first half of 2024, an analysis of data from the federal grid regulator showed, as the country further stepped up reliance on coal …

How well is India tapping its rooftop solar potential? | Explained
5 months, 3 weeks ago

How well is India tapping its rooftop solar potential? | Explained

The Hindu  

Rooftop solar has the potential to revolutionise India’s energy landscape, offering a sustainable, decentralised, and affordable solution to meet the country’s growing electricity needs and making consumers self-reliant. As of March 31 this year, the total installed RTS capacity in India was 11.87 GW, per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. To meet India’s ambitious target of installing 500 …

Rising domestic solar cell production will curb imports from China
5 months, 4 weeks ago

Rising domestic solar cell production will curb imports from China

Hindustan Times  

India expects a surge in domestic solar cell-making capacity in the coming months, which will help reduce its dependence on imported materials from China to manufacture solar panels, the country’s top renewable energy official said. A private security guard walks between rows of photovoltaic solar panels inside a solar power plant at Raisan village near Gandhinagar, Gujarat The nation’s cells …

A Customised Strategy Can Take Kerala’s Power Sector Towards Its Net-Zero Goals
7 months ago

A Customised Strategy Can Take Kerala’s Power Sector Towards Its Net-Zero Goals

The Quint  

Kerala can smoothly navigate energy transition and move towards a resilient energy future by adopting a systematic and phased approach that focusses on capacity addition, import curtailment, and storage deployment. For overcoming them, the state must strategically plan solar and wind deployment by creating land banks and identifying the available land parcels district-wise. Promoting rooftop solar systems also offers benefits, …

Green milestone: Share of coal in India’s total installed electricity capacity drops below 50%
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Green milestone: Share of coal in India’s total installed electricity capacity drops below 50%

Hindustan Times  

The share of coal in India’s total installed electricity capacity fell below 50% for the first time in history in 2023-24, according to a report released on Thursday, marking a crucial milestone in the country’s attempt to switch to clean energy. The report also found that renewable energy auctions reached a record 41 GW in fiscal year 2024, with eight …

Solar power potential in India has decreased over last three decades: Study
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Solar power potential in India has decreased over last three decades: Study

Hindustan Times  

A recent study has highlighted that with a decreased trend in solar radiations over most of the country, the solar power potential in India has decreased over the last three decades. The technical potential of solar power has a significant decreasing trend in most of the selected stations, which is alarming. As solar radiation intensity has been decreasing and there …

The ‘import restrictions’ on solar PV cells | Explained
8 months, 2 weeks ago

The ‘import restrictions’ on solar PV cells | Explained

The Hindu  

The story so far: Recent government orders on attempts to increase local sourcing of solar modules to support India’s renewables manufacturing ecosystem has been widely reported in the media as ‘import restrictions’. India’s domestic renewables sector, at the time, was unlikely to meet the spike in demand for solar power production equipment at rates offered by Chinese manufacturers. According to …

Will new solar power rules boost production? | Explained
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Will new solar power rules boost production? | Explained

The Hindu  

The story so far: To incentivise India’s solar module manufacturing industry, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has brought into effect from April 1 an executive order, The Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules Order, 2019. This became necessary because India’s solar industry, its claim of indigenousness notwithstanding, is heavily reliant on imports of cheaper and comparable-quality …

Battery manufacturer Luminous opens solar panel factory with 250 MW production capacity
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Battery manufacturer Luminous opens solar panel factory with 250 MW production capacity

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: Luminous Power Technologies, an energy storage solutions company, inaugurated its solar panel factory in Uttarakhand on Thursday with a production capacity of 250 MW, expandable up to 1 GW. The plant, spread over 10 acres in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, will be fully automated and equipped with the latest solar module manufacturing technologies, the company said. “The Solar Panel Factory …

India's solar surge: A look at ambitious plans, actual progress, and funding trends
9 months ago

India's solar surge: A look at ambitious plans, actual progress, and funding trends

India Today  

During his address at the India Today Conclave, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined ambitious plans for the next five years, particularly in solar energy. INDIA'S SOLAR PARK PROGRESS A total of 51 solar parks were sanctioned across various states in India, with a combined capacity of 37.74 GW by 2023. Andhra Pradesh has five parks with a total capacity of …

India seeks to boost rooftop solar, especially for its remote areas
10 months ago

India seeks to boost rooftop solar, especially for its remote areas

The Hindu  

Just a few years ago, someone who wanted to install a rooftop solar connection in India faced getting multiple approvals, finding a reliable company to install the panels and spending heavily before seeing the first surge of clean energy. “We had to get 45 signatures to set up a small rooftop solar connection in 2021,” said Shreya Mishra, CEO of …

India wants to hook its population onto clean energy by boosting rooftop solar
10 months ago

India wants to hook its population onto clean energy by boosting rooftop solar

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — Just a few years ago, someone who wanted to install a rooftop solar connection in India faced getting multiple approvals, finding a reliable company to install the panels and spending heavily before seeing the first surge of clean energy. “We had to get 45 signatures to set up a small rooftop solar connection in 2021,” said Shreya …

Rooftop Solar Scheme Can Double the Capacity
10 months, 1 week ago

Rooftop Solar Scheme Can Double the Capacity

Deccan Chronicle  

Despite healthy growth, solar rooftop capacity has touched only 11 GW in the past five years. The rooftop solar capacity in the past five years increased to 11.1 GW as of December 2023 from 1.8 GW as of March 2019. The pace of installations in the rooftop solar segment has been constrained by various implementation challenges including delays in providing …

India’s clean energy boom slows as new solar projects get delayed. Experts say it can pick back up
10 months, 2 weeks ago

India’s clean energy boom slows as new solar projects get delayed. Experts say it can pick back up

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — For years, renewable projects in India have been growing steadily, from small-town rooftop solar installations to large-scale projects across the desert and long stretches of wind turbines and solar panels on farmland all contributing to the country’s climate goal of transitioning to clean energy. It takes up to two years for solar projects to come online after …

A sunshine initiative: The Hindu Editorial on the government’s rooftop solar panel plan
10 months, 2 weeks ago

A sunshine initiative: The Hindu Editorial on the government’s rooftop solar panel plan

The Hindu  

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s interim Budget day speech reiterated a plan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to supply power to one crore households in the country using rooftop solar panels. What is known so far is that households that have a monthly electricity consumption of less than 300 units a month will be able to install a mid-sized system with …

Centre likely to bear ₹1 lakh-crore bill of PM rooftop solar scheme
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Centre likely to bear ₹1 lakh-crore bill of PM rooftop solar scheme

The Hindu  

As part of a renewed thrust to increase adoption of household rooftop solar systems via the Pradhan Mantri Suryoday Yojana, the Centre will effectively bear the entire cost of setting up such systems for households that consume less than 300 units of electricity per month. Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget Speech on Thursday said that one crore households …

Budget 2024 | One crore households to get 300 units free electricity every month through rooftop solarisation
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Budget 2024 | One crore households to get 300 units free electricity every month through rooftop solarisation

The Hindu  

Taking cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance following the Ayodhya temple consecration that one crore households will be electrified via rooftop solar installations, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Interim Budget 2024-25, reiterated that commitment. “Through rooftop solarisation, one crore households will be enabled to obtain up to 300 units free electricity every month. Limited consumption India’s low …

PM Modi announces new rooftop solar power scheme: How this will help India go green
11 months ago

PM Modi announces new rooftop solar power scheme: How this will help India go green

Firstpost  

Monday was a big, big day for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a post on X, PM Modi on Monday evening wrote, “The first decision I have taken after returning from Ayodhya is that our government will launch ‘Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana’ with the target of installing rooftop solar on one crore houses.” He further added that the scheme was inspired …

Fired up and plugged in – Driving India’s energy security and decarbonisation this decade
11 months ago

Fired up and plugged in – Driving India’s energy security and decarbonisation this decade

The Hindu  

As India throttles to become the fastest-growing economy in the coming years, it will have to grow in the wake of a global agreement at COP-28 to phase down unabated coal. But to keep the economy powered while decarbonising, the country will have to use its existing assets better to cater to growing demand, while simultaneously limiting exposure to new …

Pioneering sustainable energy: A blueprint for national progress
11 months ago

Pioneering sustainable energy: A blueprint for national progress

The Hindu  

Andhra Pradesh has made significant progress towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal No. has an estimated RE potential of 82.50 GW, primarily from wind and solar, the State government rolled out the RE Export Policy-2020 for establishing projects with an ambitious 120 GW capacity by the year 2025. PSHPs with a total capacity of 16,180 MW have been …

Solar sector readying for new challenges
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Solar sector readying for new challenges

China Daily  

A view of a solar power facility in Tongchuan, Shaanxi province, in August. Chinese PV firms lead the world, but overcapacity, price weakness loom China's solar industry climbed to new heights in 2023, with manufacturing, installed capacity and exports experiencing robust growth and reshaping the global landscape with continuous technological breakthroughs. According to the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, China saw …

Solar sector readying for new challenges
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Solar sector readying for new challenges

China Daily  

A view of a solar power facility in Tongchuan, Shaanxi province, in August. Chinese PV firms lead the world, but overcapacity, price weakness loom China's solar industry climbed to new heights in 2023, with manufacturing, installed capacity and exports experiencing robust growth and reshaping the global landscape with continuous technological breakthroughs. According to the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, China saw …

DC Edit | India can still be part of climate deal
1 year ago

DC Edit | India can still be part of climate deal

Deccan Chronicle  

It is surprising that India was not among the 118 nations that signed the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge at the climate summit in Dubai to triple the installed renewable energy capacity by the turn of the decade. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointed out in his address to the summit during his flying visit, India may be the …

Despite subsidies rooftop solar still too expensive: study
1 year, 1 month ago

Despite subsidies rooftop solar still too expensive: study

The Hindu  

India’s low uptake of rooftop solar systems – often touted as the pathway to clean, decentralised electricity –is largely due to limited electricity consumption and existing subsidies for coal-fired electricity that makes even subsidised solar power expensive, suggests the results of a first-of-its-kind study spanning 14,000 households across 21 states. Were all rooftops in India’s estimated 25-30 crore households to …

India will see solar revolution by 2030, says IEA
1 year, 1 month ago

India will see solar revolution by 2030, says IEA

Firstpost  

India has set a target of achieving 500 GW of installed capacity from non-fossil fuels, including around 270 GW of solar capacity, by 2030 According to the International Energy Agency, solar energy will generate 18% of India’s electricity by 2030, up from its current 6% share. According to the IEA’s latest World Energy Outlook 2023, which was released on Tuesday, …

Plan for solar panels along Najafgarh drain in Delhi
1 year, 2 months ago

Plan for solar panels along Najafgarh drain in Delhi

Hindustan Times  

Authorities plan to install more than 10,000 solar panels along a 6-km stretch of the Najafgarh drain as a pilot project, people aware of the proposal said on Monday, adding that the project, which will be executed jointly by the Solar Energy Corporation of India and BSES, will generate around 5MW of power. An environment department official said after multiple …

Number theory: Management of peak power demand will test India’s renewable push
1 year, 4 months ago

Number theory: Management of peak power demand will test India’s renewable push

Hindustan Times  

In June, the government announced that power tariffs would be linked to the time of consumption in the country. “Under the Time of Day system, tariff during solar hours of the day would be 10%-20% less than the normal tariff, and the tariff during peak hours, 10-20% higher. “ToD tariff will be applicable for commercial and industrial consumers having maximum …

What is India's ambitious 'OSOWOG' global solar grid proposal?
1 year, 5 months ago

What is India's ambitious 'OSOWOG' global solar grid proposal?

Firstpost  

PM Modi said India has received ’encouraging’ response to its global grid proposal. The initiative is to build a transnational ‘One Sun One World One Grid’ to enhance energy security from other countries. The project linking 140 nations was unveiled on the sidelines of the 2021 UN Climate conference Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India has received “encouraging” …

‘India likely to have added over 15 GW of renewable energy capacity in FY23’
1 year, 8 months ago

‘India likely to have added over 15 GW of renewable energy capacity in FY23’

Live Mint  

India is likely to have added over 15 GW of renewable energy capacity in FY23 surpassing the level achieved in the previous fiscal, said Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, secretary, union ministry of new and renewable energy. As per its climate targets, India plans to achieve a total renewable energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030 and reach net zero carbon emission …

How one village in Manipur, India is lighting the way in the green energy drive
1 year, 8 months ago

How one village in Manipur, India is lighting the way in the green energy drive

The Hindu  

Tucked away in the Himalayan foothills of northeast India and frequently battered by strong winds and landslides, the isolated village of Hengbung is well-accustomed to prolonged power cuts. But as renewable energy generation grows, particularly from solar power, energy storage is also needed to ensure the nation's grid remains stable around-the-clock and outages are avoided. Energy experts say that pumped-hydro …

As summer looms, India orders coal power plants to max out
1 year, 8 months ago

As summer looms, India orders coal power plants to max out

The Hindu  

For the second year in a row, India’s government has ordered the nation’s coal-fired power plants to run at full power. India “has to ensure there is energy security as this is critical for the country’s development and growth,” said Alok Kumar, the most senior official in India’s federal power ministry. “There is a strong political incentive to ensure regular …

As summer looms, India orders coal power plants to max out
1 year, 8 months ago

As summer looms, India orders coal power plants to max out

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — For the second year in a row, India’s government has ordered the nation’s coal-fired power plants to run at full power. India “has to ensure there is energy security as this is critical for the country’s development and growth,” said Alok Kumar, the most senior official in India’s federal power ministry. “There is a strong political incentive …

Explained | India’s solar push augurs a looming waste management challenge
1 year, 8 months ago

Explained | India’s solar push augurs a looming waste management challenge

The Hindu  

There has in the last few years been a concerted push from policymakers and thought leaders in India to transition to a circular economy to, among other things, enable effective waste management. For example, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change’s revised electronic waste management Rules in 2022 brought solar photovoltaic cells, panels, and modules under its ambit. This …

India misses RE capacity target due to low solar rooftop, wind energy project installations: Parliamentary panel
1 year, 9 months ago

India misses RE capacity target due to low solar rooftop, wind energy project installations: Parliamentary panel

The Hindu  

A parliamentary panel has attributed low installation of solar roof-top and wind energy projects as key reasons for the shortfall in achieving India’s renewable energy capacity target of 175 GW by 2022. However, it should also be mentioned that whatever shortfall has occurred in achievement of the target that is because of low installation of solar roof-tops and wind energy …

Tamil Nadu Budget 2023 gives big push to green energy
1 year, 9 months ago

Tamil Nadu Budget 2023 gives big push to green energy

The Hindu  

Tamil Nadu has touched a new high in power consumption this year - nearly 18,000 mega watt - and will be in need of a 20,000 MW in the coming years, the State government has big plans in the energy sector. Though the present contribution of green energy to Tamil Nadu grid remains at a healthy rate of 20.88%, it …

India plans to export solar power: official
1 year, 10 months ago

India plans to export solar power: official

The Hindu  

By 2026, Indian industry will be able to manufacture solar modules worth 100 gigawatts annually, and help the country be a net exporter of solar power. The future phase of India’s renewable energy development will be led by hybrid projects and renewable energy parks that will host solar and wind projects along with battery storage systems. The travails of the …

Centre extends deadline for laggard solar scheme
1 year, 10 months ago

Centre extends deadline for laggard solar scheme

The Hindu  

The deadline for a key scheme by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to install 30,000 MW solar power capacity in rural India by 2022, has now been pushed to March 2026, Power Minister R.K. Singh said in written response to a query in Lok Sabha on Thursday. The PM-KUSUM, under which ₹34,422 crore will be spent by the …

Solar energy is not the best option for India
1 year, 10 months ago

Solar energy is not the best option for India

The Hindu  

The Hindu’s editorial, Energy conundrum, expressing caution about the country’s bubbling enthusiasm in the climate change agenda by going the whole hog on solar energy is timely but spartan, and needs amplification. Apart from the external pressure that is pushing India more and more into the so-called carbon limiting renewable energy path, the Prime Minister’s own enthusiasm and support and …

800mw capacity power generation unit to start in two months
1 year, 10 months ago

800mw capacity power generation unit to start in two months

Deccan Chronicle  

Vijayawada: Energy Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy has announced that the 800mw capacity power generation unit at Dr Narla Tatarao Thermal Power Stations would be dedicated to the nation in two months’ time. The generation unit would meet the rise in demand for power in the state during the summer months. The minister, addressing a meeting, said chief minister Jagan Reddy …

Telangana govt pushes villages towards solar power
1 year, 11 months ago

Telangana govt pushes villages towards solar power

Deccan Chronicle  

ADILABAD: In a shift towards renewable energy, government subsidies and loans to women SHGs are resulting in a spike in solar rooftops in villages. With thermal power costing more and increasing demand for power, the government is promoting and allotting solar units for 300 mandals in the first phase of its project. TRS MLAs, MPs and ministers are also promoting …

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