In the world marching towards the urgent need to transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, India has emerged as a trailblazer in the realm of solar power. Due to the abundant sunlight in its vast geographical expanse, the country is not only reflecting on its commitments but has also illuminated a path for other nations to follow. In this blog, let us delve into the remarkable journey of India in driving the solar revolution.
The Solar Revolution Unfolds
A decade back, India set out on a mission of solar revolution. In 2010, the country had a modest solar capacity of around 18.7 MW. Fast forward to 2021, and India’s installed solar capacity soared to an astonishing 41.09 GW, representing a staggering growth of over 2000 times within a span of just eleven years. This summer, India didn’t just feel the heat; it harnessed it! Most recently, the nation made headlines by achieving a cumulative solar power capacity of 70.10 GW, with an additional 55.90 GW capacity currently in the installation phase.
Sun-Powered Milestones:
India’s electricity consumption also reached a dazzling 223 Gigawatts (GW) in June, up from 212 GW in the previous year. But guess what? The grid didn’t flinch, thanks to the ever-reliable renewable energy sources. During April last year, when demand for power shot up to about 215 GW, solar power contributed 18 percent of the electricity generation.
With the surge in demand, one might expect a few hiccups. But no! The grid was a picture of stability. Frequency control, a measure of the balance between generation and consumption, remained steady, showcasing the robustness of our renewable infrastructure.
Policy Initiatives and Targets
India’s innovative policies and goals have played a vital role in the growth of the country’s solar industry. Launched in 2010, the National Solar Mission sought to position India as a solar energy leader by installing 20 GW of solar power capacity by 2022. In an impressive display of its ability, India not only met but also exceeded this goal.
Facilitating Employment Growth:
The IRENA analysis claims that in just one year, the renewable energy industry added close to 700,000 new employees. The sector that is expanding the fastest is solar energy. It generated 4.3 million employment in 2021, or more than a third of all renewable energy jobs. In India, over 80,000 people were directly employed in decentralized renewable energy in 2021 (mainly in solar PV).
The solar and wind energy sectors employed 52,700 new workers for project development tasks in FY22, according to CEEW. This is an increase of eight times what was added in FY21. The solar energy sector alone employed 52,100 people, accounting for 99% of the new employment.
A Future Powered by Renewables: The solar energy industry in India has grown tremendously during the past few years. Being in a tropical region, India benefits immensely from its location, which benefits the solar energy industry. It receives a tremendous amount of solar energy all year long, which equates to almost 3,000 long hours of sunshine.
India is supposed to become less dependent and more independent according to current government plans. As a result, the nation embarked on a journey to establish a robust domestic solar manufacturing ecosystem. A domestic capacity of 39600 MW for the production of solar PV modules was recently announced by the government as part of PLI (Tranche-II). PLI (Tranche-II) is expected to attract $93041 in investment and create more than 100,000 direct and indirect employment.
A Green Tomorrow: India’s commitment to a sustainable future is evident. With every day that goes by, the nation is not only meeting its energy demands but also creating the foundation for a brighter, more environmentally friendly future. SPDA is thrilled to be at the forefront of this revolution.
Join us in celebrating India’s renewable energy journey. Together, let’s envision a world where every ray of sunshine and every gust of wind powers our dreams.