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Central Electricity Authority

India Nearly Doubles Solar Power Capacity In FY2016-17, Misses Target By 54%

India Nearly Doubles Solar Power Capacity In FY2016-17, Misses Target By 54%

written by saurabh

India recorded its highest-ever solar power capacity addition in financial year 2016-17 and yet missed out on the targeted capacity addition by a massive 54%.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) of India has reported that a record 5,526 megawatts of solar power capacity was added in the country between April 2016 and March 2017. The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy is yet to report the figures on its own website but it has communicated the same to the CEA.

With the record capacity addition took the cumulative solar power capacity in India to 12,289 megawatts as on 31 March 2017, an impressive jump of 82%. Even more the impressive is the pace of capacity addition in March 2017, the last month of the financial year. Between April 2016 and February 2017 a total of 2,804 megawatts capacity was added while 2,722 megawatts capacity was added during March 2017 itself.

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy had set a target of 12,000 megawatts solar power capacity addition in FY2016-17. Despite the huge shortfall from the target ministry officials were optimistic given the record capacity addition. In FY2015-16, the ministry had set a target to add 1,400 megawatt solar power capacity while 3,019 megawatts capacity was added.

Rating agency ICRA now expects that an estimated 7.5 gigawatt solar power capacity would likely be added in the current financial year. Consultancy firm Mercom Capital Group expects almost 10 gigawatts capacity addition in the calendar year 2017.



April 30, 2017 0 comment
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India Added Twice As Much Renewable Energy As Coal Power Capacity In 2016-17

India Added Twice As Much Renewable Energy As Coal Power Capacity In 2016-17

written by saurabh

India witnessed an extraordinary milestone in its power sector, something one would not expect in a developing country and one which is heavily dependent on coal for power generation.

India added more renewable energy capacity than thermal power capacity in financial year 2016-17, the Central Electricity Authority of India has reported. The renewable energy capacity added during the period April 2016 to March 2017 was nearly twice as much as the thermal power capacity added during the same period.

A total of 6,990 megawatt coal-based power capacity was added in India in FY2016-17 while the thermal power capacity addition during the financial year stood at 7,655 megawatts. In comparison, 14,140 megawatts of renewable energy capacity was added in the same period.

Wind and solar power were the largest contributors among the renewable energy technologies in terms of capacity addition in FY2016-17. A total of 5,413 megawatts of wind energy capacity was added, the highest-ever in India’s history. Solar power capacity addition stood at 5,526 megawatts, also the highest-ever in India.

The share of renewable energy capacity in India’s total installed capacity increased from 14.2% at the end of FY2015-16 to 17.5% at the end of FY2016-17. India targets 40% share of renewable energy technologies in the installed capacity mix by 2030.

This could very well be the first instance when India added more renewable energy capacity than thermal power capacity. However, this would certainly not be the last given the strong pipeline of wind and solar power projects waiting to be commissioned over the next few months.

A record 10 gigawatt of solar power capacity is expected to be added in calendar year 2017 and 6 gigawatts of wind energy capacity is expected to be added in FY2017-18. The thermal power sector in India is already feeling the pinch of increase generation capacity in the renewable energy sector. Last year, the Central Electricity Authority reported that thermal power plants were operating at a plant load factor of just 50% due to the increase power generation from renewable energy projects.



April 30, 2017 0 comment
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Indian Thermal Power Sector Feels The Pinch Of Renewable Energy Surge

Indian Thermal Power Sector Feels The Pinch Of Renewable Energy Surge

written by saurabh

Experts in the Indian power sector feel that the huge capacity addition planned in the renewable energy sector could spell doom for the thermal power sector.

India plans to have an operational renewable energy capacity of 175 GW by March 2022. The Central Electricity Authority reports that thermal power projects are currently operating at plant load factor of 50% and once large-scale  renewable energy projects the PLF could fall even further.

These are real concerns for several thermal power project developers and operators. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has announced plans to add upto 17 GW solar power capacity every year till 2022. The government has also given ‘must run’ status to wind and solar power projects which means that utilities will have to acquire electricity from these projects even if demand falls. In order to match the falling demand the utilities must first shutdown thermal power projects and make savings on coal and greenhouse gas emissions.

The central government is also trying to persuade states to strictly implement the Renewable Purchase Obligation that require utilities to acquire a set minimum percentage of their electricity from renewable energy projects; there is a separate RPO for solar power as well.

If RPO targets are implemented judiciously the procurement from renewable energy projects will increase significantly while procurement from thermal power projects will very likely fall. This will further impact the performance of thermal power plants.

Image by vectoropenstock.com for Cleantechies



September 24, 2016 0 comment
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