India added 2,105 MW grid-connected solar capacity in Q1 2021

New Delhi: India added 2,105 megawatts (MW) of grid-connected solar power generation capacity in the first quarter (Q1) of 2021, as the first wave of COVID-19 subsided and construction pace picked up gradually. This took the total installed capacity to 44,241 MW by 31 March 2021, according to a recent report.

It added that utility-scale solar installations increased by more than 33 percent quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) in Q1 2021.

According to the report by renewable energy consultancy Bridge to India, the new capacity addition was split between utility-scale solar and rooftop solar, at 1,735 MW and 370 MW, respectively.
“We expect construction progress to slow down considerably in Q2 2021 due to lockdown across states following the second wave of COVID-19. We have revised our projection for Q2 2021 from 2,350 MW to 1,350 MW,” added the consultancy.

Construction activity is expected to pick up pace in Q3 2021, with capacity addition expected at 2,470 MW. It added that the total commissioned utility-scale, rooftop solar, and off-grid solar capacity stood at 35,939 MW, 7,162 MW, and 1,140 MW respectively. The total project pipeline stood at 52,392 MW as on 31 March 2021.

Tender issuance was up 40 percent in Q1 2021 in comparison to the previous quarter. 24 utility-scale solar tenders, including three floating solar tenders, with a total of 10,801 MW capacity were issued in the quarter.

Auction activity shot up to 8,560 MW in Q1 2021, up 163 percent q-o-q, however, the reluctance of discoms to sign power purchase agreements continues to be a major concern.

ET Energy World