Solar energy: Karnataka earns top position

Karnataka has earned the top position in the country in the installation of solar energy capacity with 5.16 GW.

The neighbouring Telangana stood at second place with 3.4 GW and Andhra Pradesh was in the third position with installed capacity at 2.56 GW as on July 31, 2018, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The total installed capacity of solar power stood at 23.12 GW in the country as on July 31, 2018.

Solar energy output in the country was 25.87 billion units in 2017-18, which was higher than 13.49 billion units in 2016-17, 7.44 billion units in 2015-16 and 4.59 billion units in 2014-15, said the Ministry in the data submitted to Rajya Sabha.

The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) has assessed the solar power potential of the country at 748 GW.

Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy R K Singh informed Upper House that India would comfortably achieve 100 GW of solar energy capacity target by 2022 and has already installed solar capacity of 23.12 GW till July this year.

"The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has planned a detailed trajectory so as to meet the target of 100 GW by 2022. A capacity of 23.12 GW was already installed up to July 2018. Projects of around 10 GW are under implementation and tenders for additional 24.4 GW have been issued," said the Minister in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

The minister said solar power projects require around four to five acres of land per MW and the MNRE monitors the development of upcoming and commissioned renewable energy projects with implementing agencies like Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), state nodal agencies and state governments/UT administrations through regular meetings, video-conferences and on the site visits.