Solar power capacity addition during the current financial year in India has exceeded that of wind energy.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy recently released the new capacity addition data for first half of the ongoing financial year i.e. April to September 2016. Total grid-connected renewable energy capacity added this financial year till 30 September was 3,164 MW with the total operational renewable energy capacity at 45,917 MW.
Grid-connected solar power capacity added during H1 FY2016-17 is 1,750 MW, sharply higher than the wind energy capacity added during the same period – 1,305 MW. However, the solar power capacity addition is much higher for the entire financial year at 12 GW while the for the wind energy sector is just 4 GW.
The total renewable energy capacity added during H1 2016-17 is nearly twice that added during the same period last year.
Both, wind energy as well as solar power had managed to beat their respective targets last year. More than 3.4 GW wind energy capacity was added to the grid as compared to the targeted addition of 2.4 GW. Similarly, more than 3 GW of grid-connected solar power capacity was added against the target of 800 MW only.
The ministry has set a target to add 16,600 MW renewable energy capacity during the current financial year. Thus, more than 13,400 MW capacity is yet to be added in the balance financial year to achieve the target.
