Solar installations in H1 of current calendar fall 59% over last year

Solar power project installations in India during January to June period fell by 59 per cent over corresponding period last year. According to data compiled by Mercom India Research, owing to lockdown due to Covid, India added 205 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity during April-June period 2020, an 81 per cent decline compared to 1,090 MW installed in January-March 2020 period.

The decline is worrisome given that the deadline for meeting the ambitious target of 175 Gw of renewable capacity is barely two years away. Out of the targeted capacity by the Centre, solar power is estimated to contribute 100 GW by 2022.

“Large-scale installations during April-June were 120 MW compared to 896 MW installed in first three months of 2020. Compared to the capacity addition during April-June in 2019, large-scale installations decreased by about 90 per cent,” Mercom said.