New tenders to boost India's solar capacity by 28% in 2019

It is expected to add 4.5GW in Q4.

India’s utility scale solar capacity is projected to rise 28% YoY or 8.5 GW in 2019 and 29% or 11GW in 2020, JMK Research & Analytics reported. The sector is expected to add 4.5GW by Q4.

Half of the upcoming capacity in 2020 will come from installments under central tenders, and another 1GW will be added in open access mode mainly in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh under Group Captive Model. Most of the 2020 projects will be located in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

Apart from the utility scale solar, almost 2.5GW of rooftop or onsite solar capacity will arrive in 2020.

For the wind sector, its capacity is expected to grow by 2.6GW in 2019 and soar 50% or 4GW in 2020. Around 1.8 were added in 9M 2019, and another 0.8 GW is estimated to be complete by end-2019.

Most of the wind projects allocated in 2018 and scheduled in 2019 were delayed primarily from land-related issues and lack of grid transmission availability, but are likely to be commissioned in 2020.

JMK noted 2020 to possibly be the year of growth for renewables installations. “Political stability for the next five years along with the reduction in safeguard duty, fair price discovery in recent tenders and the introduction of new measures by the Government would bring in the desired push for the industry,” JMK wrote.