Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
India

India adds record 15GW of solar power capacity in first 6 months of 2024

Darpan News Desk IANS, 26 Aug, 2024 01:40 PM
  • India adds record 15GW of solar power capacity in first 6 months of 2024

New Delhi, Aug 26 (IANS) India's addition to solar power capacity jumped by 282 per cent to nearly 15 GW in the first half of 2024, which is the highest-ever half-yearly installation, according to a report by Mercom India Research.

In the second quarter of the calendar year 2024, the country commissioned 5 GW of solar capacity while in the first quarter (January-March) the new capacity that was added surged by as much as 9.9 GW, the report said.

As of June 2024, the country's installed solar capacity stood at 87.2 GW and accounted for 19.5 per cent of the total energy mix, the report said.

India's large-scale solar project pipeline stood at 146 GW, with projects totalling another 104 GW tendered and pending auctions as of June, it said.

Meanwhile, average large-scale project costs in the country declined by 2 per cent quarter on quarter and about 26 per cent year-on-year, the report said. Solar panel costs have been on a downtrend in recent years and the fall in costs is expected to continue.

Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Karnataka led the quarterly large-scale solar capacity additions while the top 10 states accounted for 94 per cent of total installations, the report added.

India has emerged as one of the world leaders in Energy Transition and fixed a target of adding 500 GW of renewable energy capacities by 2030, with solar expected to play a major role in achieving this goal.

As of June 30, 2024, the total grid-connected capacity of renewables stood at 148 GW. Of this, the solar power segment accounted for 85 GW, followed by wind power at 47 GW, and biomass at 1.4 GW. The small hydro segment accounted for 5 GW.

Installed solar capacity has increased by 32 times from 2.6 GW in 2014 to 85.5 GW now.

The technology and innovative market mechanisms have been instrumental in bringing overall costs down.

Solar is now the cheapest form of energy but is variable in nature, so India needs deployment of flexible generation sources for better integration of renewable energy, according to Vibhuti Garg, Director of South Asia, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

 

MORE India ARTICLES

Hyderabad student goes missing in US

Hyderabad student goes missing in US
A 23-year-old Indian student from Hyderabad has been missing in the US state of California since May 28 and police have sought public help to locate her. Nitheesha Kandula, a student of California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), was last seen in Los Angeles on May 28.

Hyderabad student goes missing in US

Ajmer: Two held for gang-raping schoolgirl after befriending her on Instagram

Ajmer: Two held for gang-raping schoolgirl after befriending her on Instagram
The Rajasthan Police on Monday arrested two individuals in Ajmer district who allegedly gang-raped a minor girl and were blackmailing her. The main accused, identified as Irfan, was reportedly introduced to the victim, a Class 11 student, by one of her friends. He befriended her on Instagram, morphed her pictures and started blackmailing her. Later, he and his accomplices gang-raped the minor girl.

Ajmer: Two held for gang-raping schoolgirl after befriending her on Instagram

Taj Express catches fire in Delhi, no injuries reported

Taj Express catches fire in Delhi, no injuries reported
A few coaches of the Taj Express train caught fire in Delhi's Sarita Vihar area on Monday, a fire department official said, adding that no one was injured in the incident. According to the fire department, a call regarding the blaze was received at 4:25 p.m.

Taj Express catches fire in Delhi, no injuries reported

Five Delhi Police officials arrested for extorting Rs 10L, assaulting four

Five Delhi Police officials arrested for extorting Rs 10L, assaulting four
Five police personnel were arrested for allegedly extorting Rs 10 lakh and physically assaulting four men, including a Haryana Police constable, in southwest Delhi, an official said on Thursday. The incident occurred early on Tuesday, and all the involved police officials have since been placed in judicial custody for 14 days.

Five Delhi Police officials arrested for extorting Rs 10L, assaulting four

Delhi hospital fire tragedy: Owner sent to 14-day judicial custody

Delhi hospital fire tragedy: Owner sent to 14-day judicial custody
A Delhi court on Thursday sent the owner of the Baby Care New Born Hospital, where seven children were recently killed in a massive fire, and a co-accused, to 14-day judicial custody. Hospital owner Dr. Naveen Khichi was arrested in the wake of the tragedy at the private hospital, along with an employee, Akash, who was on duty at that time.

Delhi hospital fire tragedy: Owner sent to 14-day judicial custody

2 lakh people affected in Assam due to floods

2 lakh people affected in Assam due to floods
Around 2 lakh people have been affected due to the devastating floods in the nine districts of Assam, an official said on Thursday. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has identified the nine districts as Hailakandi, Hojai, Golaghat, Nagaon, Karimganj, Cachar, Karbi Anglong West, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao.

2 lakh people affected in Assam due to floods