Installed solar capacity crosses 3 GW

New capacity addition in the clean energy sector was up nine per cent during the first 9-month of this fiscal. The total installed capacity of solar power in the country crossed 3,000 MW during the 3rd quarter.

Renewable energy sector added 2,104 MW of new capacity during first three quarters of this fiscal when compared with 1,922 MW a year-ago.

This year’s new capacity target has been fixed at 3,770 MW when compared with the previous year’s target of 4,325 MW. So, the clean energy sector has achieved only 56 per cent of the capacity addition target during the 9-month period. Wind and solar segments contributed about 1,333 MW (1,096 MW in a year-ago period) and 431 MW, while small hydro power and bagasse cogeneration contributed 187 MW and 152 MW respectively, according to Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

As of December 31, 2014, India’s cumulative grid-interactive renewable energy installed capacity rose to 33,792 MW, up from 29,989 MW on December 31, 2013.

Wind sector accounted for 66 per cent (22,465 MW). Small hydro power accounted for 3,991 MW, while solar was in third position with a capacity of 3,063 MW. Bagasse cogeneration and biomass contributed 2,800 MW and 1,365 MW respectively.