The Indian government has increased the target to set up ultra mega solar power projects in an attempt to meet the monumental target of 100 GW operational solar power capacity by March 2022.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is reportedly planning to implement a second phase of the solar power parks program. At present, the ministry has approved solar power parks in 21 states with cumulative capacity of 19,900 MW. Phase two of the program will add another 20 GW capacity.
India plans 100 GW operational solar power capacity by March 2022. This included 20 GW from solar power parks and 40 GW from rooftop solar power projects. However, the market response to rooftop solar power has been rather weak compared to the solar power park program.
Industry watchers have expressed doubts about the huge rooftop solar power target. This, perhaps, could be a reason for increasing the capacity addition target under the solar power park program.
Auctions for solar power parks has already started in India and had also seen huge competition among project developers. This competition has yielded the lowest price ever in India’s solar power market.
NTPC Limited has been chosen to set up a number of solar power parks. The company has a pipeline of 3.5 GW of solar power capacity. It will set up UMPPs in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. Other government-owned companies are also expected to be tasked with setting up similar projects in other states.
