Solar Establishes Itself in 2022 in India With Growth, Highest Generation Share Among Renewables

Highlights :

  • With 28% growth in generation over the same period in 2021, solar generation has not become the pack leader among renewables, outside large Hydro.
  • Solar’s ascendance is set to continue with strong capacity addition this year, even as Wind, and offshore wind is expected to make a stronger impact post 2024.

The share of solar power is finally making a significant impact on total generation numbers, as October data from the Central Electricity Authority indicates. From a total installed capacity share of over 15% (61+ GW out of 408 GW of total installed capacity in India), in October, solar’s share in actual generation numbers also hit a high of 5.85% in the April-October period this year. That makes it the number 1 renewable source, after taking large hydro out of the equation. Overtaking wind energy in generation this year has also been a highlight, after overtaking wind energy in capacity installed last year.

From the solar generation point of view, the first 6 months of the financial year 2022 have been promising. From Apr-22 to Sep-22, total solar generation was 48013.99 MU. If we compare the same with total solar generation in 2021, we can see growth of 28.87%. In the first 6 months of FY-21, the total solar generation of India was 34151.63 MU.

 

Month Solar Generation for Year 2021
(In MU)
Solar Generation for Year 2022
(In MU)
January 4865.41 6594.4
February 5435.79 7254.15
March 6754.24 5600.68
April 6122.18 8323.92
May 5994.66 8828.29
June 600622 8259.91
July 5170.03 6965.88
August 5449.51 7428.25
September 5409.08 8207.72
Total 645822.9 67463.21

 

Although the total solar generation in the second half of H1 (Jul-Sep) was less than the first half of H1(Apr-Jun). After a decline in solar generation by 15% in July, we can see constant growth in solar generation. In August, India generated 7428.25 MU of power while in September India generated 8207.73 MU of solar energy.

Solar generation Data

Resource: Generation Data (CEA)

Comparing Aug and Sept, we can see an M-o-M growth of 10%. Comparing the solar generation of Sept 2022 with Sept 2021, we can see a Y-o-Y growth of 51%. Although India has a long way to go to reach the target of 500 GW by 2030, the solar generation data from the H1 of Fy-22 is very promising.

RE installation October 2022

Resource: installation Data CEA

As per the publicly available data, total renewable energy installed in October 2022 was 119092.59 MW & total renewable energy generation was 14238.57 MU. This includes the entire spectrum of renewable energy (Wind Energy, Solar Energy, Biomass Energy, Bagasse Energy, Small Hydro Energy, & Others Energy).

Installation and generation data given below:

RE generation data of October 2022

Resource: RE generation data of October 2022

 

Category Installed Capacity (MW)
(as on 31.10.2022)
RE Generation
(MU) Oct’2022
RE Generation
(MU) Oct’2021
% of same period Last Year RE Generation
(MU) April’2022-Oct’2022
RE Generation
(MU) April’2021-Oct’2021
% of same period Last Year
 Wind Energy 41843.98 3421.8 2977.92 114.9 53046.71 51272.74 103.45
 Solar Energy 61624.27 8726.83 6225.88 140.17 56740.09 40377.57 140.52
 Biomass Energy 10205.61 215.17 234.16 91.8917 1735.9 1998.59 86.85
 Bagasse Energy 348.19 337.43 103.18 3439.11 2759.3 124.63
 Small Hydro Energy 4923.495 1297.67 1275.25 101.75 7625.02 7218.84 105.62
 Others Energy 495.23 228.88 198.64 115.22 1477.03 1240.95 119.02
 Total Energy 119092.58 14238.56 11249.31 126.57 124063.88 104868.01 118.3

 

If we compare the renewable energy generation of October 2022 with October 2021, we can see Y-o-Y growth of 126.57%. Solar energy generation also increased by 140.17%.

October 2022 vs October 2021

Resource: Generation data

Now, let’s have a look to renewable energy generation from April to October 2022. From April-22 to October-22, the total RE generation was 124063.88 MU, while from April-21 to October-21 India generated 104868.02 MU. Here also we can see a Y-o-Y growth of 118.30%. Solar energy generation also increased by 140.57%.

Solar & Wind Generation Data 2022 vs 2021 (From Apr to Oct)

Resource: Generation data

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