India surpasses 72 GW solar power milestone, led by state investments

14 Dec 2023 CW Team

In the Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy and Power, R K Singh, announced that India has successfully reached a solar power capacity of 72.02 GW. This significant achievement comprises various sources, including 55.71 GW from ground-mounted installations, 11.08 GW from rooftop installations, 2.55 GW from the solar component of hybrid projects, and 2.68 GW from off-grid solar. The minister shared this information in response to three distinct queries.

State-specific data reveals a notable surge in solar power capacity since the fiscal year 2019-20, with considerable contributions from Gujarat, Karnataka, and Rajasthan. The upswing in installations can be primarily attributed to private sector investments, facilitated through a transparent bidding process.

Moreover, the northeastern states receive additional financial support for solar power projects through the Rooftop Solar and PM-KUSUM schemes. Although the total budget allocation for solar energy in the fiscal year 2023-24 is Rs 59.1725 billion, the distribution among states is not specified.

The government has affirmed its commitment to the development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects, with the ambitious goal of establishing at least 50 solar parks boasting a cumulative capacity of 40,000 MW. As of October 31, 2023, approvals have been granted for 50 solar parks across 12 states, with a sanctioned capacity of 37,490 MW. Out of these, 10,237 MW of solar projects have already been commissioned in 18 solar parks.

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