Clean energy share rises to 7.54% in India's power generation

Power generation from renewable energy sources like solar and wind has increased to 7.54 per of the total electricity generated in the country during April-September this fiscal, Parliament was informed today.
During the period, out of total power generation of 631.84 billion units (BU), 47.62 BU was generated from renewable energy sources, New & Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.
According to the statement, in 2015-16, total power generation in the country was 1,173.60 BU including 65.78 BU (or 5.60 per cent of total generation) from renewable energy sources.
The share of power generation from renewable sources was 5.56 per cent at 61.78 BU in 2014-15. India's total power generation in that fiscal was 1,110.45 BU.

Government has revised upwards the target of renewable energy capacity to 175 GW by 2022 which includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-power and 5 GW from small hydro-power.
The total installed capacity from various renewable energy sources in the country as on October 31, 2016 is 28,279 MW from wind, 8,728 MW from solar, 4,997 MW from bio-power and 4,323 MW from small hydro power.

In another reply, the Minister told the House that total wind power generation capacity added in the country during 2015-16 is 3,423 MW and during 2016-17 (up to October 31, 2016) is 1,502 MW.

In a separate reply to the House, the Minister said, "Silicon in any form (Raw poly, ingot or wafer) is not produced in India. All cell makers currently import wafers only."
As per information received from Ministry of Commerce, 7,39,039 kg of undefused silicon wafers and 3,12,616 Kg of others were imported during 2015-16.
The Minister said that for the poly silicon available globally, rates vary from USD 11 per kg to USD 20 per kg.
He further said that government provides capital subsidy for setting up of manufacturing units for solar cells and modules and the entire value chain under Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) programme.

"Solar Photovoltaic products and their value chain including Polysilicon is an eligible vertical for incentives under M-SIPS. Till date, one project with a proposed investment of Rs 13,985 crore has been received under M-SIPS where Polysilicon has been proposed to be domestically produced," he added.