India is globally ranked 4th for Solar PV Capacity and Solar Power, 3rd for solar thermal heating & cooling capacity additions. Currently, renewable energy sources account for 12% of the installed power capacity of which solar power is only around 1% in India. Various policies, initiatives and subsidies have been introduced by the Indian government to increase the contribution of solar power. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) is the flagship initiative of the Government of India, to address the nation’s energy security needs and also meet challenges of climate change. Under the mission, India plans to have an installed solar power capacity of 20 GW by 2022.
Solar power can be generated using the Solar Photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, through grid as well as off-grid applications.
o “Grid interactive solar power” is derived from solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and thermal solar plants on a large scale. The solar PV cells are connected to the utility source or the electrical provider. Rooftop solar systems are also grid interactive systems
o “Off- grid solar power” – The PV system is not connected to the grid and the power is generated from various renewable energy technologies. Solar lighting, solar cooling/heaters, solar pumps, small scale power generators, solar cooking systems are some of the applications used.
The installed capacity of solar power in India has grown from 22 MW in 2010 to 3 GW (3003MW) in 2014. The implementation of central and state solar policies has driven the increase in the overall capacity. Independent of the national efforts, a number of states have also introduced their own policies. Gujarat and Rajasthan are the two leading states accounting for 60% of the installed solar capacity in India.
The Government of India has also introduced Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO) and Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) to achieve their energy requirements.
State-wise Total installed solar capacity, 2014 Total Capacity: 3,003 MW
Source: MNRE
*Others include major states like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
Some of the key players are Adani Enterprises Ltd., Ganges Entertainment Private Ltd, Alex Astral Power Private Limited, GMR Gujarat Solar Power Company, SEI Solar Power Gujarat Pvt. Ltd, Tata Power Company Ltd, TATA Power Solar systems, Hirako Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd, Solar Field Energy Pvt. Ltd., PLG Photovoltaic, Azure Solar Pvt Ltd., Welspun Solar AP Pvt Ltd., Mahindra Suryapraksh Pvt Ltd. and SunEdison.
India is globally ranked 4th for Solar PV Capacity and Solar Power, 3rd for solar thermal heating & cooling capacity additions. Currently, renewable energy sources account for 12% of the installed power capacity of which solar power is only around 1% in India. Various policies, initiatives and subsidies have been introduced by the Indian government to increase the contribution of solar power. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) is the flagship initiative of the Government of India, to address the nation’s energy security needs and also meet challenges of climate change. Under the mission, India plans to have an installed solar power capacity of 20 GW by 2022.
Solar power can be generated using the Solar Photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, through grid as well as off-grid applications.
o “Grid interactive solar power” is derived from solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and thermal solar plants on a large scale. The solar PV cells are connected to the utility source or the electrical provider. Rooftop solar systems are also grid interactive systems
o “Off- grid solar power” – The PV system is not connected to the grid and the power is generated from various renewable energy technologies. Solar lighting, solar cooling/heaters, solar pumps, small scale power generators, solar cooking systems are some of the applications used.
The installed capacity of solar power in India has grown from 22 MW in 2010 to 3 GW (3003MW) in 2014. The implementation of central and state solar policies has driven the increase in the overall capacity. Independent of the national efforts, a number of states have also introduced their own policies. Gujarat and Rajasthan are the two leading states accounting for 60% of the installed solar capacity in India.
The Government of India has also introduced Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO) and Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) to achieve their energy requirements.
State-wise Total installed solar capacity, 2014
Total Capacity: 3,003 MW
Source: MNRE
*Others include major states like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
Some of the key players are Adani Enterprises Ltd., Ganges Entertainment Private Ltd, Alex Astral Power Private Limited, GMR Gujarat Solar Power Company, SEI Solar Power Gujarat Pvt. Ltd, Tata Power Company Ltd, TATA Power Solar systems, Hirako Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd, Solar Field Energy Pvt. Ltd., PLG Photovoltaic, Azure Solar Pvt Ltd., Welspun Solar AP Pvt Ltd., Mahindra Suryapraksh Pvt Ltd. and SunEdison.