Close X
Monday, November 11, 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

Dhoni challenges defamation suit by ex-biz partners in Delhi HC, says not maintainable

Dhoni challenges defamation suit by ex-biz partners in Delhi HC, says not maintainable
Contesting the defamation suit by two ex-business partners Mihir Diwakar and his wife Soumya Das, former Team India cricket captain M.S. Dhoni on Monday told the Delhi High Court that the plea was not maintainable and that he had filed a case against the couple in a Ranchi court. The duo has sought a permanent injunction and damages against Dhoni aiming to prevent the dissemination of alleged defamatory statements regarding purported illegal gains of Rs 15 crore and a breach of a 2017 contract.  

Dhoni challenges defamation suit by ex-biz partners in Delhi HC, says not maintainable

Man wanted for murder in Delhi nabbed from Punjab

Man wanted for murder in Delhi nabbed from Punjab
A 23-year-old man, who was absconding after killing his neighbour with stone and knife along with his friends, was arrested from Punjab, a Delhi Police’s Crime Branch official said on Monday. The accused was identified as Amarjeet Singh aka Manga, a resident of Siraspur, Samaypur Badli.

Man wanted for murder in Delhi nabbed from Punjab

Melodious: PM Modi praises patriotic song by Egyptian girl on 75th R-Day

Melodious: PM Modi praises patriotic song by Egyptian girl on 75th R-Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised a patriotic song rendered by an Egyptian girl at India's 75th Republic Day celebrations in Cairo. Dressed in traditional Indian attire, Kariman sang the ‘Desh Rangeela’ song at the India House, leaving a large gathering of Indians and Egyptians impressed.

Melodious: PM Modi praises patriotic song by Egyptian girl on 75th R-Day

Akali Dal seeks probe in deletion of 10.70 lakh blue cards under ‘aata-daal’ scheme

Akali Dal seeks probe in deletion of 10.70 lakh blue cards under ‘aata-daal’ scheme
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday demanded a probe into the deletion of 10.70 lakh blue cards of beneficiaries under the ‘aata-daal’ scheme which has now been restored by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema said that it is shocking that the AAP government has denied food grains given under the scheme to 40 lakh people for two years and has now restored the facility on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections due to deep resentment on this issue at the grassroots.

Akali Dal seeks probe in deletion of 10.70 lakh blue cards under ‘aata-daal’ scheme

Lalu Prasad Yadav returns home from ED office after 10 hours questioning

Lalu Prasad Yadav returns home from ED office after 10 hours questioning
After hours of questioning by Enforcement Directorate officials on Monday, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav returned home late on Monday night. Lalu Prasad Yadav reached the ED office here at 11 a.m. and was there till 9 p.m. as officials have quizzed him for 10 hours in the IRCTC land for job case.

Lalu Prasad Yadav returns home from ED office after 10 hours questioning

PM Modi extends greetings to nation on 75th Republic Day

PM Modi extends greetings to nation on 75th Republic Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of the 75th Republic Day. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President J. P. Nadda also greeted the countrymen

PM Modi extends greetings to nation on 75th Republic Day