At 2256MW, Gujarat adds Most Solar, Wind Capacity b/w July’20 & June’21

India added a total of 6,530 mega watt (MW) of solar and wind capacities between July 2020 and June 2021, according to a report released yesterday by Bridge to India, a renewable energy consultancy and knowledge services provider. Gujarat added 2,256 MW capacity, the highest capacity during the said period, followed by Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh which added 1,438 MW and 822 MW, respectively.

At 6,530 MW, the addition was a rise of 3 per cent compared to the year-ago period, the “India Renewables Map 2021” report said. “Total utility scale solar and wind capacity addition in the 12-month period between July 2020-June 2021 was 6,530 MW, a nominal 3 per cent year-on-year increase,” it said.

As per Bridge to India, the Indian renewable power sector has lots going for it. There are strong environmental and economical imperatives mandating push away from conventional sources to new sources of power. Costs are falling, technology is constantly improving, the government is supportive and the business community is keen to exploit the investment opportunity.

Solar and wind are also now by far the two cheapest greenfield power sources. Renewable power penetration has grown from 3% to 10% in the last five years. Gujarat’s achievement is not very surprising, given that earlier this year, MNRE statistics revealed that Gujarat tops the list of Indian states with installed solar rooftop capacity, at 943.13 MW.

However, policy, execution and financial pressures have slowed sector activity and raised concerns about viability of projects under development, adds Bridge to India. Capacity addition in the last two years has failed to match the record numbers in FY 2018.

Bridge to India highlights three top priorities for the government to pave way for faster growth of the sector:

• Mitigate offtake risk by making DISCOMs financially sustainable.
• Develop a long-term roadmap for land, transmission and debt provision.
• Address non-firm nature of renewable power output.

Vinay Rustagi, Managing Director, Bridge To India, said: “India’s renewable sector has shown remarkable resilience in the face of multiple challenges last year. But investor confidence is still downbeat because there is tremendous policy uncertainty all around and execution risks are rising. It would be great to see more proactive support from the government for the distributed renewable market, which is likely to be hit the hardest.”

In August, Bridge to India revealed that the country added 2,110 MW solar power capacity in Q2 2021, according to the Q2 2021 edition of its “India Solar Compass” report.