Large Scale Solar In India

At a launch event for a report on “Large Scale Integration of Renewable Energy” on April 18, 2016, the Indian Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal said that in the last 12 months a total of 21 GW of solar capacity has been offered for bidding in the Indian renewable energy space, packed with power purchase agreements.

There have been a series of announcements in terms of tenders floated for solar power capacity which has got attention from both domestic and foreign developers. He referred to low tariffs being offered as ‘transparent, honest and aggressive bidding’ in the solar power capacity auctions. Accepting the challenges of getting solar power to the grid and running the same, Goyal pointed out that solar tariffs have come down to grid parity, which is a good sign for the Indian power sector.

Goyal said that his ministry has been successful in coming up with a long term vision for solar power which is not subsidy based, but on the strength of transparency. The report provides recommendations that will help expansion of renewable energy in India along with stabilising the same. Referring to struggling US solar company SunEdison and its effect on Indian renewable energy, Goyal commented that one company coming down does not mean the whole sector will suffer.

On the eve of leaving for New York to sign the Paris Agreement, Goyal lashed out at the developed world for not making it easy for developing nations to have easy and affordable access to environment friendly technologies. Calling the actions of the latter as ‘anti-development’, he announced that his country would offer its renewable energy technology to help other emerging economies in Asia, Africa and other regions with India build a sustainable grid. All this will be done pro-bono, he said.

The launch event can be viewed via YouTube.