763.47 MW Added in November, India’s Total RE Capacity Surpasses 90 GW

India’s renewable energy (RE) capacity has surpassed the 90 GW mark, with 763.47 MW of new capacity added during the penultimate month of 2020.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a monthly summary for the Cabinet for the month of November 2020, detailing all the events and development that took place during the month. The month saw India’s total renewable energy (RE) capacity surpass the 90 gigawatts mark (90.39 GW), with 763.47 MW of new capacity added during the penultimate month of the year. 

The monthly report detailed that wind made up 38.43 GW of the total, closely followed by solar at 36.91 GW and then 10.31 GW from Bio-power and finally 4.74 GW from small hydro projects. The ministry has revealed that projects of 49.28 GW capacity are at various stages of implementation and that 30.29 GW capacity currently under various stages of bidding.

During the month, the 3rd RE-INVEST was also organised virtually from November 26 to 28. The event had several plenary and technical sessions covering all aspects of renewable energy. Technical sessions included those relating to solar power, wind power, grid integration, future of RE, skilling, etc. India’s RE Capacity 90 GW

Key highlights:

1. The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) held an e-RA for 1070 MW grid-connected solar PV power projects to be set up in Rajasthan (Tranche-III) on November 23, 2020, in which the record tariff of Rs 2.0/kWh was discovered. — The record low L1 bid was submitted by Saudi Arabian firm Al Jomaih Energy and Water Co and Sembcorp Energy India subsidiary Green Infra Wind Energy. Both submitted the L1 bid for 200 MW and 400 MW capacity respectively. According to industry reports, the L1 bid was closely followed by NTPC ltd which submitted the bid of Rs 2.01/kWh for 600 MW capacity.

2. Earlier in the month, the ministry issued an order for scaling and expansion of the PM-Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) scheme to achieve an enhanced solar capacity of 30.8 GW by 2022 with a revised Central Finance support of Rs 34,035 crore. — The revised targets under the three components of the scheme are as follows:

• Component A: 10,000 MW of decentralised ground-mounted grid-connected solar power plants of individual plant size up to 2 MW.
• Component B: Installation of 20 lakh standalone solar-powered agricultural pumps of individual capacity up to 7.5 HP.
• Component C: Solarisation of 15 lakh grid-connected agricultural pumps of individual pump capacity up o 7.5 HP including through feeder level solarisation.

The targets initially were to add solar and other renewable capacities of 25,750 MW by 2022 with the total central financial support of Rs. 34,422 Crore.