India's Grid-Tied Solar Installed Capacity Nearing 30 GW: RK Singh

The cumulative grid-connected installed solar power capacity in India is nearing the 30 GW mark sooner rather than later with the installed capacity at the end of May 2019, being 29,409 MW, Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh established in a written response to the Parliament.

The Government of India has set a target of 175 GW renewable power capacity to be installed in the country by 2022. This contains of 100 GW from Solar, 60 GW from Wind, 10 GW from Biomass and 5 GW from Small Hydro.

In his reply, the minister wrote that in order to accomplish the target of 100 GW from Solar, the Government has launched various schemes like the “Solar Park Scheme” which is aiming over 40,000 MW of projects, the KUSUM scheme and more. And that at present the installed grid-connected solar capacity in the country, due to these schemes is just wary of 30 GW.

According to the data provided in his response, the leading states when it comes to installing solar capacity connected to the grid are:

• Karnataka with 6134.90 MW installed capacity
• Telangana with 3598.80 MW of grid-tied projects
• Rajasthan with 3551 MW of projects
• Andhra Pradesh with 3290.76 MW capacity, and
• Tamil Nadu with 2812.05 MW installed capacity.

Singh further that India is moving very fast in adding renewable energy capacities. He also said that in the next 15-20 days, a scheme will be propelled for farmers where they can set up 2 MW solar panel to produce power which will be bought by the government. Through this, he said, farmers can earn up to Rs one lakh per year.