123 GW of solar capacity either commissioned or in pipeline: Govt

India has commissioned 57.71 GW of solar capacity while another 48.71 GW is in the pipeline as of June-end, MoS for MNRE Bhagwanth Khuba told RS
123 GW of solar capacity either commissioned or in pipeline: Govt
123 GW of solar capacity either commissioned or in pipeline: Govt
  • Solar projects commissioned (including off-grid) are 57.71 GW, while 48.71 GW solar capacity is under implementation
  • Solar projects with a total capacity of 16.69 GW are under tendering as of June 30, 2022

New Delhi: India has commissioned 57.71 GW of solar capacity while another 48.71 GW is in the pipeline as of June-end, Minister of State (MoS) for New and Renewable Energy Bhagwanth Khuba told Parliament on Tuesday. India has set a target of putting in place 100 GW of solar power capacity by December 2022. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Khuba stated that a solar energy capacity of 123.11 GW has either been commissioned or is in the pipeline.

Solar projects of 16.69 GW capacity under tendering

Solar projects commissioned (including off-grid) are 57.71 GW, while 48.71 GW solar capacity is under implementation. Solar projects with a total capacity of 16.69 GW are under tendering as of June 30, 2022.

Challenges faced in the implementation of solar projects include deceleration of pace of implementation to a considerable extent due to COVID pandemic, acquisition of clear land and mismatch in timelines between solar projects and power evacuation infrastructure, the minister said.

In another reply to the House, the minister said, "A total of 114.07 GW of renewable energy capacity (excluding large hydro) have been installed in the country as of June 30, 2022."

Renewable energy projects of 60.66 GW capacity (excluding large hydro) are under various stages of implementation and 23.14 GW capacity are under various stages of bidding.

The installed wind energy capacity is 40.78 GW as of June 30.

160.92 GW RE capacity installed in India so far

In another reply, the minister stated that so far, a total of 160.92 GW of renewable energy capacity (including large hydro) has been installed in the country as of June 30, 2022.

This capacity includes 57.71 GW solar power, 40.79 GW wind power, 10.68 GW bio-power, 4.89 GW small hydro power and 46.85 GW Large Hydro Power. Further, projects of 74.76 GW capacity are under various stages of implementation and 23.14 GW capacity are under various stages of bidding.

Discoms have purchased 3.75 cr RECs so far

In another reply, the minister told the House that discoms have purchased 3,75,81,714 renewable energy certificates (RECs) (till June 30, 2022), which is 53.92 percent of 6,96,93,635 RECs sold so far since inception of this concept of renewable purchase obligation in 2010.

The REC mechanism was launched in 2010 to facilitate obligated entities to meet their Renewable Purchase Obligations and also to incentivise Renewable Energy generators.

One REC is equivalent to 1000 MWhr. These RECs are given to a RE generator who does not sell electricity from renewable energy sources to an obligated entity for generation of 1 MWhr of electricity.

The Open Access/Captive Power Producers purchased 3,18,18,478 RECs till June this year, which is 45.65 percent of the total 6,96,93,635 RECs sold so far.

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