2,330 MW renewable power capacity added in 2009-10

Capacity addition in the domestic renewable power sector during the last financial year was much better than the year before. India added 2.33 gigawatt (gw) (billion watts) of grid-connected renewable power generation capacity during 2009-10, an all time record, which is more than double the 1.1 gw added during 2008-09. The highest growth was shown by the biomass-agriwaste and small hydro sector, which nearly tripled their contribution from 0.25 gw to 0.75 gw in 2009-10. The biggest contributor of all, wind power, showed growth, but remained bogged down by economic downturn related problems.  It added 1.57 gw, compared to 0.79 gw the previous year, but the level of addition was lower than two years ago, when it expanded by 1.66 gw.

For the first time, solar farms also made their mark on the grid-connected electricity scene, after remaining in use primarily for non-grid purposes such as isolated lamp posts, hoardings etc.  Solar added 8 megawatt (0.008 gw) during the year. The centre has a plan to take the total grid-connected solar capacity to 1 gw by 2013, from around 0.03 gw currently. It expects to further raise solar power generation capacity to 20 gw by 2020. Besides, it also has a target of achieving 24 gw, of the total power capacity of 220 gw, from the grid-connected renewables by March 2012. Thanks to the economic downturn, the second goal is now likely to be missed. At the end of March 2010, India had a total of 16.8 gw of grid-connected, according to the latest numbers.While India added a total of 2.3 gw during the last year, meeting the target would require it to add the remaining 7.2 gw in two years.