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The total new capacity addition in the renewable energy sector in the country in 2015-16 has surpassed the target. This is the second year in a row that clean energy sector has exceeded the target and about one-third of the overall addition during the year is reported to be from renewables.
The fiscal 2015-16 witnessed two major milestones — total installed capacity of the wind sector crossed 25 GW. Capacity addition in solar power segment was for the first time, close to what wind sector added.
As against the target of 4,460 MW, the clean energy sector achieved capacity addition of 6,937 MW in 2015-16.
Major contributions came from the two key segments — wind and solar. While wind power sector added 3,300 MW against the targeted capacity of 2,400 MW, solar industry brought in 3,019 MW to the grid against the target of 1,400 MW during the fiscal that ended on March 31, 2016.
Bio Power (biomass & gasification and bagasse cogeneration) also managed to meet the capacity addition target of 400 MW during the year. Small hydro segment added 219 MW, lower than the target of 250 MW.
In addition to the above, 176 MW of off-grid/ captive power generation capacity came during the year, according to Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
As of March 31, 2016, cumulative grid-connected renewable power capacity in the country stood at 42,727 MW. The total installed capacity of wind power stood at 26,744 MW. Solar was the second major segment with a total capacity of 6,763 MW. Bio power capacity was at 4,831 MW; small hydro 4,274 MW; and waste-to-power 115 MW.
Going forward, solar is expected to bring in more new capacity in view of the ambitious target set under the National Solar Mission. While the government is yet to fix the overall capacity addition target for the renewable sector for 2016-17, it has already drawn up plans to add up to 17,000 MW of new capacity during this fiscal.
Rajasthan and Gujarat are ahead of other States in solar power capacity addition with each has commissioned more than 1,000 MW of projects. Others that are making significant progress include Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
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