‘Renewed’ Energy Security: 15,860 MW Of Clean Energy Capacity To Be Added In 2019, 50 Per Cent Higher Than Last Year

According to a new report, India is expected to add 15,860 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity in the current year (2019), up by fifty per cent from last year, reports Mint.

“Dictated purely by tender timetables, capacity addition should jump from 10,560MW last year to 15,860MW in 2019. Most of the uplift will come from utility scale solar although rooftop solar is also expected to register another year of fantastic growth,” said the report.

States like Rajasthan (over 2,000 MW), Andhra Pradesh (1,950 MW), Tamil Nadu (1,872 MW) and Karnataka (1,555 MW) are expected to contribute to most of the capacity addition.

The report titled ‘India RE 2019 Outlook’ was published by the renewable energy consultancy firm, Bridge to India. The report also stated that 2018 was a ‘forgettable year’ for the renewable energy sector in India.

“Relatively minor issues such as GST, safeguard duty and BIS standards caused major frustration. Solar park development stalled and transmission capacity also struggled to keep pace with needs of the sector,” the report noted.

Sustained progress

However, in 2018, India’s renewable sector broke a new record. For the first time, renewable power units (solar and wind energy plants) accounted for more than ten per cent of India’s total energy production.

Also according to the latest government data, the share of renewable energy in India’s overall energy mix stood at an impressive 20 per cent last year, rising from 14 per cent in 2015.

Similarly, according to the Climatescope Report 2018, India jumped three places to rank second regarding overall improvement in the deployment of renewable energy. The survey included data for 103 countries across the globe.

However, despite such notable accomplishments, India is expected to miss its ambitious target of installing 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022.

Also Read: Why The World Is Betting High On India’s Renewable Energy Sector