The increase in wind power generation capacity by 3,000 MW over the last one year has helped raise electricity generation from renewable energy source to new highs in 2016-17.

Data from the National Load Dispatch Centre show that on May 24, 2016 almost 21 per cent or 650 million units of the country’s total electricity demand of 3,127 million units was met through wind and hydro energy.

Between April – May 25, 2016, wind and hydro power plants generated 23,066 million units across the country while the nationwide electricity demand met was at 1,83,143 million units.

Wind power capacity has increased to 26,866.66 MW as on April 30, compared with 23,444 MW last year.

However, falling hydro power generation has meant that the share of wind and hydro in the country’s total electricity mix has remained at 12.5 per cent between April-May 25, 2016. Data from the previous two years indicates that towards the last week of May, contribution of hydro power and wind power to the total electricity demand typically spikes to around 19-20 per cent.

“Typically, this the pre-monsoon time in the southern and western region which is why there is a spike in hydro power and wind power generation. This year, wind has been higher but hydro power generation has slipped which has meant that the overall contribution of renewable energy sources has remained at traditional levels,” an official at the National Load Dispatch Centre said.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy officials are still in the process of compiling the contribution of solar power into the country’s electricity mix. The total solar power capacity as on April 30 stood at around 6,998 MW.

“Assuming that the average capacity utilisation of the solar plants is around 25 per cent, the plants would be generating 41.98 million units of electricity every day,” the official said.

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