Solar energy adds 258MW to Indian grid

India’s national initiative to promote renewable energy has boosted its photovoltaic capacity by 255MW and its concentrated solar power capacity by 2.5MW.

These accomplishments are part of the first phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), said the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency. JNNSM will also commission an additional 38MW of PV and 497.5MW of CSP under batch 1, and 350MW of PV under batch 2.

Of the 255MW of PV commissioned, 125MW has been commissioned under the large-scale PV sub-programme in 25 projects; 81.55MW in the Rooftop PV and Small Solar Power Generation Program and a further 48MW in the JNNSM's Migration Scheme. CSP take up has been slower with just one 2.5MW project having been commissioned out of a possible 500MW.

India currently has a PV capacity of over 1,000MW, the majority of which was installed in the last 12 months with the help of government initiatives and private sector funding.