India has crossed 57.70 GW in 2021-22 up from Solar Power Capacity from 40.08 GW as on 31 March 2021. The trend showed that it is bound to increase in coming time and may touch 75 GW by March 2023.

India need to increase Solar Power by commissioning more to cross the capacity of 100 GW by fiscal 2023, increasing it by 25GW as we are behind schedule, to come at par with Hon. Prime Minister's dream. Which now seems not achievable, however even if we add 30 GW by year end it will be phenomenal but that too is a over expectation. And there lies the need to increase rooftop which has grabbed it own space. It still falls short of the National Solar Mission target by a huge margin.

But as editor and the keen observer of the industry, I can see things falling in place and grow at the speed of PM's expectations in another 5 year years from now. For this "ATMANIRBHART BHARAT", has to be a huge success in Cell Manufacturing field.

We expect an additional of another 16 to 18 GW max by year end Which makes the total capacity to around 75 GW. Far lessor then our Prime Ministers ambition.

Nodal Agency partnered Companies Power plants, has certainly slowed down the coming up of Plants. Things are not going to be easy even after reaching 75 GW. That BCD, which comes as part of the AtamaNirbhar Bharat initiative designed at stimulating domestic manufacturing, was replaced by another set of regulations which got effective from August 2020 has made the smaller Solar companies very difficult to survive. Many a small module manufacturers have closed down due to DCR requirement but DCR on the long run will put India on the right track.

It also comes amidst a push from India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to rekindle domestic renewable manufacturing having witnessed imports struggle with logistics issues posed by the ongoing Russian-Ukraine war. India counter to Chinese aggressive posturing is another reason. indigenous manufacturing of cell & semi conductors augurs well for long term future of solar PV industry in India. With corporate giants like Ambani/Adani showing interest it may not be long that India becomes one of the leaders solar energy.

In addition, Union Minister for Power Mr. R K Singh also confirmed that an approved list of PV manufacturers for use in government-backed solar projects would be published by the end of this year, having been pushed back from the original date of April following the onset of the pandemic. While expected, the news will come as blow to Chinese inverter manufacturers which have come to dominate India's rooftop solar inverter market.

Softdisk believes that lower the PPP lesser is the possibility of the project development company to survive, and more importantly the PPP negotiated with various Governments should revisited and allow higher PPP. The rates such as Rs 2.44 per unit as these will never allow the 500 MW plant to recover its money in 15 years time leave alone profits, by that time maintenance and reduced yield will become focus area. Already the PPA executed by Uttar Pradesh Govt. was at 2.88 per unit.

India will not be able to achieve its ambitious target of generating 100 GW Solar Power by 2022. In a report, Softdisk research wing said that in the best-case scenario, the country will touch 75GW, against the current capacity of 57.70 GW as on March 2022.
"We are more confident that projects with the Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) will be executed faster; their projects are better able to deal with evacuation concerns (i.e. connection to the national grid)," said Salil Chatterjee, head, Softdisk Research. SECI also cancelled 950 MW of solar tenders in July, unhappy with the tariffs that developers were bidding.

"The government must be live with the outcome of bid price; it should go ahead with these projects even if tariffs are higher than what they like," Salil said. "It's hard to say which tariff is unreasonable; it's hard to predict whether module prices will go up or down in the future.

Since 1st April 2022 - 40% BCD on solar modules and 25% BCD on solar cells will be applicable. Now how under development projects will be completed with out escalation in price.

This will ensure that PM announces another ambition plan to increase by 50GW i.e to have 150GW by 31st March 2025, which may ensure that this 125 GW (1st Ambition) at least gets fulfilled & crossed.

Which Softdisk believes is certainly possible but for this indigenous cell manufacturing has to increase.

Solar PV industry analysts and project developers in India feel that imposing BCD will be a negative step in the overall goal for de-carbonizing the energy sector in India, where tremendous progress has been made in the last four years.

Now here are the big question what is more important for our Country: Economy of the Country or Environment?

Modi Ji is absolutely right when he ask for compensation for destroying the environment and getting developed and today shouting green-green.

They developed their countries destroying the environment and now as we develop they say we are destroying the environment.

It is similar to one day Deepawali celebrations will pollute the environment while over 9 month of war between Russia & Ukraine is all green.

Levying such duties will drastically affect solar power developers and capacity addition targets set by the government of India. We have been advocating for quite some time that there should be a level-playing field in terms of uniform taxation and levy of duty for every manufacturer in the country, including both who are inside SEZ and DTA, says Salil.

Softdisk believes that if a measure promotes domestic manufacturing then we should definitely do that. When we talk about domestic manufacturing, we should also keep in mind to be independent of imports not just on modules but cells, wafers, and ingots, and device strategies to strengthen domestic supply chains for the same. Vertical integration is essential and should be definitely done.

Some reports suggest that renewable energy projects already commissioned might not be able to take advantage of the 'grandfather clause' to import any solar equipment from China. Since the grandfathering was announced, we have collected information of all the projects that are in the pipeline. So, we have collected information on 111 projects with 30-GW capacity in the pipeline. Immediately after the announcement came six months back, we stood up with the Government for 'grandfathering' because we believe that there are still a lot of pending claims for the 'change in law' compensations for safeguard duty and GST from 2017 and 2018. Those compensations have not been awarded. Recently the Minister in statement said that it is not possible to 'grandfather'.
Secondly, even though 'grandfathering' is not possible then the ministry should consider a mode of compensation mechanism which would not get dragged over time and the claims by developers are compensated as early as possible.

The minister has said that it will be in line with the coal-based cess where, at present based on the increase in the coal cess or surcharge, the generators are able to claim the increase directly through the intermediary and they will get a post-facto regulatory approval. In principle it looks fine, provided it is implemented in this form where the developers can get benefit right from day one.

The reason behind it is that we have an ambitious renewable energy target and it requires a lot of capital. And when we have BCD, it is the direct equity of a company that is going into paying these additional costs. That means that this money, which was supposed to go into new projects, is going in paying these duties which is not good for our target and solar proliferation. So, there should be enough liquidity with the industry both in terms of payments receivables from the discoms as well as these compensations that come up due to certain 'change in law' so that the industry does not suffer a cash crunch. There is certainly a delay in payments from discoms.

If it is in the interest of the country or if it is taking us in the path of energy security, while we are in transition phase to new energy forms, then no one will be against such trade barriers. However, if there are no enabling policies in place for promoting domestic manufacturing, then BCD might not do justice for providing domestic manufacturing as they should.

We at Softdisk personally seen & met both type of suffers.

More & more companies are moving towards cell manufacturing, a few have spelt out their plans but most have kept them in wraps.

On the smaller manufacturers front Roof -Top's have taken the urbanized society, SME & corporate sector by storm.
Schemes such as KUSUM if fully implemented, it will help uptake of about 25,000 MW domestically-made cells and modules. That is a huge demand, almost twice the module demand of our current capacity. This augure very well for the country and both small & big manufacturers & EPC companies.
This is aimed at creating a platform to bring domestic and foreign investors, and Indian industry together along with providing information related to manufacturing incentives in every state of the country. Exporting renewable power among states should be welcomed as it is a very good trend and it will come up more in RE rich states.This will result in states not capping the potential.

On the global front, we already have the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which over 140 country have joined now, and we at Softdisk believe that the ISA and its programmes will be a good arena for taking Indian businesses into countries where we did not have any chance to penetrate.

All said and & done Softdisk believes that Govt. should take all positive step to help companies setup Solar Cell Manufacturing facilities on large scale. It will require very high end players to accomplish such projects independently, sops from the Govt. will be welcome.

The solar energy generation in terms of installed Solar PV power generations systems have been listed.
However potential in a specific area can be assessed based on factors like availability of land, solar radiation etc. The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an apex institute of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), has estimated the potential of solar power in the country to be around 750 Gwp.
However, India has just reached an aggregate installed capacity of grid-interactive solar energy at 57.70 GW as of 31st March, 2022.
 

The top ten states in terms of the installed power generation in India along with their installed s potential of power generation capacity on 31st March 2022 are as follows :

1. Rajasthan
Rajasthan are in No 1 position in the list of states with largest installed base till 31st March 2022, its total installed grid-connected solar energy generation capacity stood at 14454.70 (14.4GW)up from 5,732.58 MW (or 5.7 GW approx) as on March 31, 2021. Thanks mainly to 3rd & 4th phase completion of Bhadla Solar park in, Jodhpur. It now becomes the largest solar power plant in India. In recent times, the state has moved ahead with a more aggressive solar expansion plan, ensuring it remains a key contributor to the national goal of 100 GW solar by 2022. With the highest solar energy production in the country. It is having an aggregate solar power potential of 142.31 gigawatts (GW). Their will be many first's to its credit in the coming years as not even 10% of its potential has been realized yet.

2. Gujarat
Gujarat have moved to 2 position in the list of states with large installed base till 31st March 2022 with a total installed capacity of 7,806.80 MW (or 7.8 GW) , up from 4,430.82 MW (or 4.4 GW) as on March 31, 2021. Major contributors to the capacity increase includes a Solar Smart City Village at Modhera, a first of its kind initiative any where in the world where every house hold is being powered by solar power. Also PM recently laid the foundation stone of 30 GW of solar power plant at Kutch just 100 KM away from Pakistan border. Its total potential solar energy generation capacity is calculated at 35.77 GW.

3. Karnataka
Karnataka are in No 3 position in the list of states with installed base of 7,597.92 MW (or 7.6 GW) as on March 31, 2022 till 31st March 2022, Karnataka's cumulative installed grid-connected solar power generation capacity too grew significantly from 7,355.17 MW (or 7.35 GW) as on March 31, 2021. Karnataka has performed well in terms of installation as compared to all the other states having a higher potential of solar energy generation. Karnataka's total estimated solar energy generation capacity is close to 24.70 Gwp.

4. Tamilnadu
Tamilnadu are in No 4 position in the list of states with fourth largest installed base till 31st March 2022, its total installed solar energy generation capacity stood at 5,690.79 MW (or 5.6 GW approx) as on March 31, 2022. Up from 4,475.21 MW (or 4.4 GW approx) as on March 31, 2021.

In recent times, the state has moved ahead with a more motivated solar expansion plan, ensuring it remains a key contributor to the national goal of 100 GW solar by 2022 end, which though may not be met. It is having an aggregate solar power potential of 140.23 gigawatts (Gwp).

5. Telangana
Telangana are in No 5 position in the list of states with large installed base of 4,621.07 MW (or 4.6 GW) at the end of March 2022, up from 3,953.12 MW (or 3.96 GW) at the end of March 2021. With its high level of industrialization, this Indian state has the potential to be a game-changer for the entire energy mix for the country. With its contributions to solar energy production in the country. Its aggregate solar power potential capacity is calculated at 35.20 Gwp.

6. Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh are in No 6 position in the list of states with large installed base with total installed solar energy generation capacity having reached 4,390.48 MW (or 4.3 GW) as on March 31, 2022 up from 4,203.00 MW (or 4.2 GW) as on March 31, 2021. If there were not policy-related hurdles in the recent past these numbers could be much higher.
Its aggregate solar power potential is estimated at 38.44 Gwp.

7. Maharashtra
Maharashtra are in No 7 position in the list of states with large installed base of 2,753.30 MW (or 2.7 GW) at the end of March 2022 up from 2,289.97 MW (or 2.3 GW) at the end of March 2021. With its high level of industrialization, this central Indian state has the potential to be a top level energy provider for the country. Its aggregate solar power potential capacity is calculated at 64.32 Gwp. This shows that there is a huge potential awaiting to be tapped as currently not even 4% of the state's potential is being tapped.

8. Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh are in No 8 position in the list of states with large installed base of solar power generation touched 2,746.27 MW (or over 2.7 GW) till 31st March 2022 the state's up from 2,463.22 MW (or over 2.4 GW) While, Madhya Pradesh has done more installations as compared to Maharashtra but its only in numbers not in capacity thanks to the progress of its massive REWA Solar Park. However, the state's recent signing up for more thermal projects will definitely disappoint those expecting better things from the state. With its contributions to solar energy production in the country. It is here we expect the center to intervene & direct the state, but having more agricultural & forest area must have been the reason. Its total solar energy generation capacity is estimated at 61.66 Gwp.

9. Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh are in No 9 position in the list of states with large installed base of solar energy capacity touching 2,244.56 MW (or nearly 2.2 GW) at the end of March 2022 up from 1,172.50 MW (or nearly 1.1 GW) at the end of March 2021. Uttar Pradesh has also picked up the pace and is targeting now over 10 GW of renewable energy capacity addition including solar in the state. The state has a tough battle ahead & a growth under the current government has been stupendous. It's aggregate estimated solar energy generation capacity stood at 22.83 Gwp.

10. Punjab
Punjab are in No 10 position in the list of states with large installed base of 1,117.99 MW (1.1 GW) at the end of March 2022 up from 9,59.50 MW as on March 2021. With its high level of industrialization & Agro based industry, this northern Indian state has the potential to be a big contributor for the energy mix with its contributions to solar energy production in the country. Its aggregate solar power potential capacity is calculated at 20.05 GW.