2043 MW new Wind Capacity Added in India This Fiscal: RK Singh

RK Singh has informed that 2043 MW of new wind energy capacity has been installed in the country in the current fiscal year up until February 29, 2020.

Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy RK Singh has informed that 2043 MW of new wind energy capacity has been installed in the country in the current fiscal year up until February 29, 2020.

Replying to the question raised in the Lok Sabha, Singh said that “During the year 2019-20 (up to 29.2.2020) capacity of 2043 MW was added in the country as against, 1480 MW during the previous financial year 2018-19.”

Answering another question on whether the Government is aware that there is a lack of investment in wind energy projects due to high costs and non-payment of dues to renewable energy developers,  the minister said that the government has received representations regarding non-payment of dues to renewable energy developers and following steps have been taken:

i. State Governments have been requested to pay outstanding dues to renewable energy developers.

ii. The government have facilitated providing loans to various State Discoms through Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) to clear outstanding dues to renewable energy developers.

iii. In order to ensure timely payments to renewable energy developers, the Government has already issued orders regarding opening and maintaining adequate Letter(s) of Credit (LC) as Payment Security Mechanism under Power Purchase Agreements by Distribution Licensees.

Further, in order to attract the investors and developers, the Government has instructed Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd and NTPC Ltd not to prescribe the upper cap in future bids for wind and solar power projects.

Finally while answering a question on whether the Government proposes to achieve its target of 60 GW of wind energy capacity by 2022 the minister said that the installed capacity of wind power in the country during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019- 20 (as on February 29, 2020) are 1865 MW, 1480 MW, and 2043 MW respectively.

“The Government has set a target of installing 60,000 MW of wind power capacity to be commissioned by December 2022, out of which capacity of 37,669 MW has already been commissioned, with 9236 MW of projects under implementation and 1200 MW under bidding.”