In FY2021 (April 2020-Mar 2021), about 3.5 GW of new utility-scale solar capacity was added in India. Compared to previous year (FY2020), installations were about 39% lesser.
Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh were the leading states with most of the large-scale installations during this period.
On the rooftop solar side, despite COVID-induced lockdown and restrictions, about 2 GW of new capacity was added in FY2021.
Gujarat and Maharashtra together contributed nearly 50% of all rooftop installations in FY2021. Other states that added maximum rooftop solar capacity in FY2021 include Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
In the wind segment, in FY2021, about 1.5 GW of new wind capacity was added. This is about 28% lower than the previous year’s installation.
In the current fiscal year i.e. in FY2022, as per JMK Research estimates, about 10 GW of new utility-scale solar capacity and 3.5 GW of new wind capacity are expected to be installed.
Due to this, MNRE, in its recent notification dated 12 May, 2021, had stated that the renewable energy projects having their commissioning dates on or after 1 April, 2021, can claim extension owing to the second surge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This article is based on JMK Research Newsletter; edited by Clean-Future Team