India's Renewable Energy Sector Soars, MNRE Reports Solar and Wind Advances

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has unveiled its latest data, showcasing notable advancements in India's renewable energy sector. The cumulative physical progress report as of May 31, 2024, highlights significant strides, particularly in the areas of solar and wind power installations.

In May alone, India added 3,007.28 MW of installed renewable energy capacity. This substantial growth is primarily attributed to two major contributors: wind power and solar power. Wind power saw an addition of 535.96 MW, raising the total cumulative capacity to 46,422.47 MW. Solar power experienced an increase of 2,463.82 MW, bringing the cumulative capacity to 84,277.42 MW.

Other sectors also contributed to the overall growth, albeit on a smaller scale. Small hydro power saw some progress, while biomass (both bagasse and non-bagasse) cogeneration and waste-to-power projects did not report new additions during this period. Nevertheless, their cumulative achievements remain significant.

The solar power sector continues to be a cornerstone of India's renewable energy strategy, achieving substantial advancements. The cumulative solar capacity now stands at 84.28 GW, broken down as follows: ground-mounted solar plants account for 66.07 GW, grid-connected solar rooftops contribute 12.46 GW, hybrid projects (solar component) add 2.57 GW, and off-grid solar installations total 3.18 GW. These figures underscore the diverse approaches India is employing to expand its solar energy footprint.

As of the end of May 2024, India's total installed renewable energy capacity has reached 146,651.79 MW. This total highlights the country's diversified approach to energy generation, with notable contributions from various renewable sources. Solar power leads with a capacity of 84,277.42 MW, followed closely by wind power at 46,422.47 MW. Small hydro power has a cumulative capacity of 5,005.25 MW. Biomass cogeneration remains a significant contributor as well, with bagasse-based projects at 9,433.56 MW and non-bagasse projects at 921.79 MW. Waste-to-power initiatives have also made their mark, with 249.74 MW from waste-to-power projects and 341.56 MW from off-grid waste-to-energy projects.

India's renewable energy sector continues to expand at an impressive rate, driven by significant contributions from wind and solar power.