In less than years - FY11, FY12 and FY13 (up to January 31,
2013) - India could add a record 12,436 mw of grid connected
renewable energy capacity, according to official
figures released by the government. This has by far exceeded
the target of 9,623 mw set for the period. While wind energy
contributed the most, it was solar energy that put up a
promising performance. India added as much as 1.2 GW of
solar power capacity that even exceeded additions from a
more traditional source like small hydropower.
Wind energy contributed 67 per cent to the total renewable
energy capacity added during the period under study. Biomass
(including cogeneration and waste-to-energy projects) had a
share of 14.6 per cent, followed by solar energy (9.9 per cent)
and small hydropower (8.7 per cent).
Taking all renewable energy sources in consideration, Tamil
Nadu added 3,113.7 mw of new capacity that stood for a
quarter of the country's achievement. Gujarat came second
with a share of 19.2 per cent followed by Rajasthan with 15.5
per cent. It is interesting to note that while Tamil Nadu scored
solely on account of wind, Gujarat and Rajasthan witnessed
significant contributions from both solar and wind. In fact,
Gujarat fueled India's solar success story with additions of
824.1 mw, accounting for two-thirds of the country's total
additions. Desert state Rajasthan came second, albeit
distantly, with 251.3 mw of grid-connected solar power
capacity. India's solar energy accomplishments have been
largely driven by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar
Mission, complemented by state government-run
incentive schemes.
Maharashtra, though ranking fourth, did show a
balanced performance with respect to various clean energy
sources. It added 562.9 mw of agro-based power generation
capacity, largely due to bagasse-based cogeneration making
it the topmost state in this regard. The western
state also added 1 GW through wind energy but relatively
very little — only 25 mw— through solar energy.
Karnataka continued its dominance in the field of small
hydropower having added 405.7 mw, much ahead of
second-seeded Himachal Pradesh with 275.7 mw.
Karnataka has been tapping its small hydropower potential
very seriously and available information indicates that the
state's known technical potential has been fully exploited.
Studies indicate that India's overall SHP potential lies
untapped to the extent of as much as 70 per cent.
Untitled Document
RENEWABLE ENERGY CAPACITY ADDITION: FY11 TO FY13* |
| State |
Biomass |
Small Hydro |
Solar |
Wind |
Total |
% to
total |
| Tamil Nadu |
207.4 |
33.0 |
17.1 |
2,856.2 |
3,113.7 |
25.0 |
| Gujarat |
30.0 |
8.6 |
824.1 |
1,526.4 |
2,389.1 |
19.2 |
| Rajasthan |
62.0 |
0.0 |
251.3 |
1,616.8 |
1,930.1 |
15.5 |
| Maharashtra |
562.9 |
74.2 |
25.0 |
1,037.0 |
1,699.1 |
13.7 |
| Karnataka |
188.5 |
405.7 |
14.0 |
786.0 |
1,394.2 |
11.2 |
| Andhra Pradesh |
35.0 |
37.0 |
23.2 |
313.0 |
408.1 |
3.3 |
| Uttar Pradesh |
361.9 |
0.0 |
12.0 |
0.0 |
373.9 |
3.0 |
| Himachal Pradesh |
0.0 |
275.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
275.7 |
2.2 |
| Madhya Pradesh |
17.4 |
15.0 |
7.8 |
173.2 |
213.4 |
1.7 |
| Punjab |
96.5 |
30.6 |
9.0 |
0.0 |
136.1 |
1.1 |
| Rest of India |
248.7 |
196.5 |
50.4 |
8.1 |
503.8 |
4.1 |
| All India Total |
1,810.3 |
1,076.4 |
1,233.7 |
8,316.6 |
12,436.9 |
100.0 |
| % to total |
14.6 |
8.7 |
9.9 |
66.9 |
100.0 |
--- |
| *From 1 April 2011 up to 31 January 2013 |
Wind and solar energy will continue to fire India's
renewable energy pursuits in the coming years. However,
withdrawal of fiscal benefits for wind power projects
might dampen the pace of capacity addition in the coming
years. All the same, industry experts widely believe that the
fiscal benefits will be restored. Solar energy will continue to
benefit from fiscal incentives available at the Central and
state level. It is however feared that cost of solar equipment
might go up following anti-dumping duties being imposed
on Chinese and Thai solar cells. Further, China would also
need solar equipment to meet its own solar power
objectives, which may cause price increase due to a demand supply
mismatch in the global market.
While India is doing well on in terms of addition of
renewable energy capacity, there is much scope to improve
the contribution of clean energy sources to the total power
generation. costs.