Page 4 - AsiaElec Week 04 2023

AsiaElec COMMENTARY AsiaElec

India renewable policy raises

questions

New Delhi acting with the best intentions, but work still needed across
renewables sector including financial checks of power distribution companies

INDIA THE government of India is intent on doubling the original goal to be met, but few India watch-
its installed renewables capacity in the next four ers and local energy analysts are confident that
WHAT: years, but despite massive investment in infra- achieving such numbers in the next few months
Indian renewable policy structure across the subcontinent, considerable is feasible.
under the sportlight doubts remain as to whether this is a realistic Crucial to any significant advances are increased
goal, or too much, too soon. numbers of utility-scale solar power plants and
WHY: As of September last year, total installed improved infrastructure supporting distributed
Financial woes on part of renewables capacity in India stood at 157.3 GW. energy outside major population centres.
discoms failing to instill Solar power led the way with 48.55 GW, just Government policies leading to higher con-
wider confidence ahead of large hydro projects with 46.51 GW of sumer demand can also increase overall growth.
capacity, and wind-generated power at 40.03 However, even with central government
WHAT NEXT: GW, of which the overwhelming majority was production linked incentive (PIL) programmes
2027 target date will need onshore; India’s offshore wind projects are still helping to raise some interest, and overall solar
work to achieve in their relative infancy. capacity expected to rise by around 10% by the
The remaining 22 GW of capacity is made end of the year, little will be achieved without suf-
up of smaller amounts of biopower, nuclear and ficient supplies of PV modules and cells.
small hydro projects. Many of the problems in adding large-scale Mid-2023 has
Headlines were made throughout the coun- facilities to the grid in 2022 can be put down
try and later around the world as the government to efforts to move Indian producers away from now been set as
of Narendra Modi in New Delhi admitted in importing Chinese-made PV components before the new date for
August of 2022 that it would fall short of goals domestic supply chains are in place; a vital part of
set in early 2018, to source 43% of its total energy the nation’s long-term solar infrastructure is only the original goal
needs from renewables by last December. now being properly addressed.
Citing “multiple challenges” and pointing Prior to an April 2022, an increase in duty to be met.
the finger at long-standing issues with import- on predominantly Chinese-made imports from
ing solar and wind components coupled to a 15% to 40% for modules, and 25% for cells, saw
lack of domestic infrastructure, a September 9, project developers stockpile an estimated 10 GW
2022, parliamentary report issued by New Delhi of materials in the first quarter of the year.
stated that in fact, just over half of all planned It is thought that this will in time lead to around 16
renewable capacity had actually been installed. GW of solar installations being added to regional grids.

New date set Government investment up
Mid-2023 has now been set as the new date for Thereafter the onus will fall almost entirely

P4 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 04 26 •January•2023