Solar power generation in India has increased substantially over the past few years. However, there was a decline in solar power generation rate quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) due to seasonal changes. This is similar to the trend last year.

According to the data released by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), solar power generation in the third quarter (Q3) of calendar year (CY) 2018 spiked by 58 percent year-over-year (YoY) to 8,399 million units (MU) when compared to 5,324 MU generated by solar in Q3 CY 2017.

The solar installed capacity in the country at the end of Q3 CY 2018 was about 26 GW, a 53 percent increase compared to 17 GW of solar installed as of Q3 CY 2017.

In a quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) comparison, solar generation declined by 12 percent to 8,399 MU when compared to 9,514 MU generated by solar in Q2 CY 2018.

In the period between July to September end (Q3) 2018, solar installations in India totaled approximately 1.5 GW (preliminary numbers), slightly higher than the ~1.4 GW of solar installed in Q2 CY 2018.

As of September 30, 2018, over 26 GW of solar have been installed in the country, according to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, representing a 7.46 percentage share of the total power capacity in India. On a year-over-year comparison, about 17 GW of solar had been installed as on Q3 CY 2017, representing 5.14 percent share in the total power capacity in India.

In the first nine months (9M) of CY 2018, solar power generation accounted for 26,449 MU. This is a 76 percent increase YoY when compared to the 15,021 MU of solar electricity generation in the first nine months of CY 2017. Mercom recently reported that solar projects aggregating 750 MW under development in Rajasthan’s Bhadla Solar Park are facing delays due to land procurement issues. Previously, Mercom has also written about developers being worried about land and transmission issues plaguing the growth of solar in the country.

To continue the growth of usage from solar energy generation sources, proactive steps need to be taken by the government to mitigate current challenges including among others.