India added approximately 8,811 MW of new solar capacity from January 1, 2021 till September 30, 2021, about 280% higher than in the corresponding period of the previous year. New wind capacity addition was 101% higher at 1,246 MW, according to JMK Research.

The analysts attribute the significant installation to the commissioning of the projects that were stretched beyond their due date because of Covid-19 disruption.

With the new addition, India’s overall installed RE capacity has reached 101.53 GW as of September 30, 2021. Solar energy, with a 46% share, is the biggest contributor to the total RE capacity, followed by wind energy (39%), bio-power (10%) and small hydro (5%).

JMK Research expects India to install approximately 11 GW of new utility scale solar capacity and around 3 GW of rooftop PV if the third wave of the covid-19 pandemic does not strike the country between November and December 2021.

Leading states

Rajasthan led new utility-scale solar installations during January to September 2021 with state-level addition close to 2.5 GW.

In the rooftop solar segment, about 2,068 MW of new capacity was added in the nine months period, which is 134% higher than 883 MW capacity added in the same period previous year. Gujarat led the installation with a capacity addition of 531 MW, accounting for nearly 26% of the total rooftop installations during the analysis period.

“The “Surya Urja Rooftop Yojana – Gujarat” scheme is the key reason for this significant capacity addition in Gujarat that aims installation of solar rooftops for 8 lakh residential consumers by March 2022. Under this scheme, 40% of state subsidy is provided on installation of systems up to 3 kW and 20% subsidy for 3 kW- 10 kW system size,” stated JMK report.