Rajasthan added 8.2 GW of solar installations by Q3 2021

Rajasthan is the top state in India with 8.2 GW solar power installations at the end of the third quarter in FY22. Out of the total installations, 7.65 GW accounts for utility-scale projects and 543 MW rooftop installations. According to the sources, the cumulative power installations in Karnataka at the end of September was 7.7 GW, and its large-scale solar projects account for 7.4 GW. In the first half of 2021, Rajasthan contributed 35% of the large scale installations with a 1.2 GW installed capacity. Since 2018, Karnataka has been in the top state with 20% cumulative large-scale solar installations in India, followed by Rajasthan with 17% cumulative installations. Karnataka overtook Telangana in 2018 to get the top position with 5 GW solar photovoltaic installation. Karnataka installed significant capacities between 2017-19, but recently it is not showing much activity because it increased its Renewable purchase obligation (RPO) target by 177%. With the increasing power demand in agricultural and industrial states, it will be one of the top destinations for solar development. Availability of land was also a factor for the drop in solar installations. Solar capacity installations in Rajasthan were hindered due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Around 3 GW of the interstate transmission system (ISTS), connected solar projects are expected to be commissioned in Rajasthan. The state also has the world's largest Bhadla Solar Park. In 2019, Rajasthan had released its Solar Energy Policy 2019, aiming to achieve a target of 30 GW solar power by FY 2024-25. Out of this, solar parks will account for 24 GW capacity, 4 GW distributed generation, and 1 GW of rooftop solar projects and solar pumps. Image SourceAlso read: Goa govt now tags Panjim smart city as solar city Also read: Jharkhand’s 1st canal-top solar plant to be operational by Jan 2022