CCMS Bureau
In 2015, the government of India had set the target of achieving 100 gigawatt (GW) of grid connected solar installation by 2022. Now, with less than four months to the deadline of the solar target, India stares at an installation gap of 39 GW.
The 100 GW target comprises of 40 GW for grid-connected rooftop and 60 GW for grid connected utility scale projects. Till August 31, 2022, the cumulative grid connected solar power capacity of India stands at 61 GW.
“The gap in terms of installed capacity for rooftop and utility scale segments from their respective targets are 69% and 18% respectively, as of August 2022. The underwhelming progress of rooftop solar installation can be attributed to low consumer awareness and inadequate supply side infrastructure,” the report added.
But now the government has extended the deadline for achieving 40 GW rooftop solar by March 2026. “The gap in terms of installed capacity for rooftop and utility-scale segments from their respective targets are 69% and 18% respectively, as of Au-gust 2022. The underwhelming progress of rooftop solar installation can be attributed to low consumer awareness and inadequate supply side infrastructure,” A Report said.
The programme, which has a major role in achieving India’s total capacity target in solar energy, was already lagging. India had reached just 7.9 GW of installed rooftop solar capacity as of June 2022. The dead line addition is not a promising sign, opine experts.Through an order issued in the first week of October, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy extended the deadline of the Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II from the original deadline of December 2022. The ministry said that the Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II has been extended till March 31, 2026, without any financial accusation.
