India's solar capacity addition at five-year lowest

04 Mar 2021 Editorial Team

Last year, India saw its solar power capacity additions shrink by 56% on a year-on-year basis due to Covid-induced lockdowns, but a “significant positive growth” has been noted this year.

Mercom India Research reports that in 2020, at 3,239 MW, India’s newly commissioned solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity reached its lowest level in five years, and the drop in power sale agreements as tariffs in auctions experienced a steep fall. A rise in module prices and the lockdowns have contributed to the decline.

This year, with policies aiming to promote domestic manufacturing and curb imports of solar components, the sector is set for growth. Market analysts anticipate over 10 GW of solar capacity addition in 2021, given the upcoming commissioning of delayed projects in 2020.

4th Indian Cement Review Conference 2021

17-18 March

Click for event info

According to media sources, India commissioned 2.5 GW of large scale solar parks in the past year, or 60% less than a year before. Rooftop installations fell 35% in annual terms to 719 MW and accounted for 22% of the total capacity additions. Regionally, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh were the three states with the largest share of new installations for the year.

In the fourth quarter, 1.5 GW of solar parks were put on stream, down from 1.8 GW a year back. Out of this, 1.2 GW came from the large scale solar sector, and 285 MW was from the rooftop systems.

Overall, solar was responsible for 48% of India’s total power capacity additions in 2020. Its cumulative installed solar capacity at the year end amounted to 39 GW, and around 47.5 GW was in the pipeline.

Image Source

Also read: Cities, states issue tenders for solar projects

Also read: Total solar capacity surpasses wind capacity in India

Last year, India saw its solar power capacity additions shrink by 56% on a year-on-year basis due to Covid-induced lockdowns, but a “significant positive growth” has been noted this year. Mercom India Research reports that in 2020, at 3,239 MW, India’s newly commissioned solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity reached its lowest level in five years, and the drop in power sale agreements as tariffs in auctions experienced a steep fall. A rise in module prices and the lockdowns have contributed to the decline. This year, with policies aiming to promote domestic manufacturing and curb imports of solar components, the sector is set for growth. Market analysts anticipate over 10 GW of solar capacity addition in 2021, given the upcoming commissioning of delayed projects in 2020.4th Indian Cement Review Conference 202117-18 March Click for event info According to media sources, India commissioned 2.5 GW of large scale solar parks in the past year, or 60% less than a year before. Rooftop installations fell 35% in annual terms to 719 MW and accounted for 22% of the total capacity additions. Regionally, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh were the three states with the largest share of new installations for the year. In the fourth quarter, 1.5 GW of solar parks were put on stream, down from 1.8 GW a year back. Out of this, 1.2 GW came from the large scale solar sector, and 285 MW was from the rooftop systems. Overall, solar was responsible for 48% of India’s total power capacity additions in 2020. Its cumulative installed solar capacity at the year end amounted to 39 GW, and around 47.5 GW was in the pipeline. Image Source Also read: Cities, states issue tenders for solar projects Also read: Total solar capacity surpasses wind capacity in India

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

Real Estate

29 Jul 2026

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Equipment

29 Jul 2026

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..