India Raises Renewables Target

Several years ago, India set what seemed like a lofty target of 175 gigawatts of wind and solar energy by March 2022.

Few believed that was a practical target, but then India plowed forward and happily impressed the world. Last week, that goal increased to 227 gigawatts.

Currently, India has added a little more than 70 GW of that goal. Assessing the progress to date on a linear scale, the trend would seem to indicate the country is behind. However, renewable energy growth is not linear, CleanTechnica reported.

For a few years, renewable energy prices in India were rather high due to surging finance costs. Now that those finance costs have come down substantially, renewable energy investment is accelerating.

In a recent statement to the media, India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy wrote, “New opportunities have emerged—altogether a new business space has been created. Indian companies have begun to explore foreign stock exchanges as a source of funds. India is progressively becoming a most favored destination for investment in renewables.”

Of course, global prices for renewable energy have continued to drop as well, allowing this goal to be increased.

Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy R. K. Singh recently stated at a press conference, “India’s current renewable-based power capacity stands at 70 GW and we will cross the 175- GW target well before 2022. We have new schemes like offshore wind, floating solar, which will help us over-achieve the current target.”

Should India reach this new goal, it will be only behind China and the US in terms of installed renewable energy capacity. This increased goal is perfect timing, as it is expected that renewable energy growth in China may contract this year due to lower subsidies. Energy demand in India continues to grow and renewable energy is allowing that demand to be met at the best price possible. Unfortunately, India continues to add thermal fossil fuel power each year, but the good news is its utilization is decreasing.

With the old renewable energy target, thermal power plant utilization was expected to be 57%; with the new target, it stands to reason that will drop even further. The Indian government is going all out to ensure renewable energy is integrated into the national grid and curtailments are minimized.

The ministry waived the Inter State Transmission System charges and losses for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by March 2022.

This is expected to help set up projects in states that have greater resource potential and availability of suitable land.

It is truly incredible to see developing countries begin to take the lead with regard to installing renewable energy.