Mercom forecasts 9 GW of solar setups for 2017

Clean energy communications and research firm Mercom Capital Group on Tuesday reiterates its 2017 solar installation forecast of over 9 GW, releasing its quarterly update on the Indian solar market.

“Solar installations in India are expected to reach over 4 GW in 2016, compared with 2.3 GW installed in 2015. Mercom reiterates its 2017 solar installation forecast of over 9 GW. Cumulative installations including large-scale and rooftop projects in the country have reached 9.6 GW,” the company said in a statement, adding that of the 4 GW to be installed in 2016, 3.7 GW are expected to be utility-scale projects and about 275 MW are expected to be rooftop projects. The country’s solar development pipeline is now more than 14.2 GW with about 6.3 GW of projects tendered and pending auction.

“We are forecasting installations to reach over 9 GW in 2017, which would put the Indian solar sector in the big leagues along with China, the US, and Japan. However, there are significant headwinds in terms of transmission and evacuation issues that could threaten the pace of growth,” Mercom Capital Group Co-founder and CEO Raj Prabhu said.