Page 12 - AsiaElec Week 50 2022

AsiaElec RENEWABLES AsiaElec

India on course to double

renewables capacity by 2027

INDIA CURRENT renewable energy projections which panel supplies from China have been
in India are increasingly leaning towards the limited following a decision to increase import
sub-continent almost doubling capacity by the duties by the central government.
end of 2027. This saw the duty on modules jump from 15%
According to a recent International Energy to 40%, with the tax on cells increased to 25%;
Agency (IEA) report, Indian solar installations all numbers that initially shook investors and in
will make up 75% of the total, with primarily some cases led to a number of firms leaving the
onshore wind facilities adding a further 15%. subcontinent altogether.
Hydropower will contribute the lion’s share of Yet despite the initial worries over module
the remaining 10%, with other forms of renew- and cell supplies, forecasts by the Indian govern-
able energy such as biomass and waste to energy ment that 16% of PV capacity will be added to
generation still limited in output. the grid by year’s end have boosted confidence,
The nation also intends to produce 5mn as these are a full 60% higher than numbers
tonnes per year (tpy) of green hydrogen, albeit posted a year earlier.
by the slightly later date of 2030. Efforts by the national government in New
As of August this year a total of 59 solar parks Delhi in the meantime, in addition to more
with a combined capacity of 40 GW have been local moves at the state government level, have
approved across the country. In addition, the seen local manufacturing centers established,
world’s largest solar-wind hybrid facility is now although it is taking time to generate adequate
under construction in the state of Gujarat in supply to meet demand.
north west India and is reported to be on track By the end of the decade India’s current goal is
to produce 30 GW of capacity when completed. to increase domestic cell and module generating
According to the IEA report, with renewable capacity to in excess of 70 GW annually.
energy set to make up around 90% of total global Hybrid facilities blending solar and wind
electricity generation by 2027, much of the generating capacity have also become increas-
short-term increase in numbers will be located ingly important across the renewables sector in
in India. India in recent years.
Other areas with significant contributions Close to 25% of all new projects since 2021,
planned include the European Union, China have been hybrid in form; a number that is only
and the USA. predicted to increase, according to the report.
India consultant for the IEA Astha Gupta “[A] Hybrid project refers to innovative
said: “Two policy measures that India has combinations of solar and wind power at a site.
adopted to promote domestic manufacturing It can include solar, wind, and battery or pumped
in the solar PV sector include the Production hydro storage. Bundling coal with renewables
Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and raising is also another option,” Gupta continued, also
import duties on modules.” making reference to India’s recent moves of late
She went on to say that whilst the government in energy storage technology.
moves will help stabilise the renewables indus- Moves towards furthering clean energy infra-
try in India, “secure and resilient supply chains structure across the country are, as a knock-on
could (also) play an integral role as India plans effect, reducing investment costs in storage and
for 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030.” battery development tech, she went on to say; an
Gupta’s PLI mention most notably referred area New Delhi is already known to be keen to
to a response to concern felt across much of the exploit in the coming months and years. ™
solar industry in India throughout 2022, during

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