India expects to have 2 GW solar capacity by 2013

India plans to have two gigawatts of solar power generation capacity by March 2013.

The ministry of new and renewable energy has drawn up plans to increase the capacity with 1,100 MW to be prodcued under the first phase.

Bharat Bhargava, director at MNRE and in-charge of solar power projects, said that bidding process would be completed by the month end for 350 MW under second batch of projects of first phase of National Solar Mission.

Bhargava revealed that 218 applications were received for the batch two projects.

The mission is aimed at installing 20 GW of solar power by 2022.

“There are 35 projects already functional. This activity started recently. Wait till 2013 for it to really take off,” he said. Besides National Solar Mission, there are policies by various states like Gujarat, Maharashta, Karnataka and Rajasthan. MahaGenco is setting up 125 MW capacity plant in Maharashtra. Tata Power and Reliance are building 40 MW plants each to meet their own requirements.

He said the cost of installation per MW of solar power had come down from Rs.20 crore to Rs.10 crore. He suggested that Andhra Pradesh come up with its own policy as it has a robust manufacturing industry in Hyderabad.