Much work still to be done as India lies off target for wind capacity additions

The renewable energy sector in the country is likely to miss the capacity addition target for the current financial year on the back of economic slowdown as also due to lapse of an incentive scheme and uncertainties over reintroduction of a government support scheme for the wind sector.

During the first 11 months of current financial year, country has added only 2,380 mw of new capacity. However, the new capacity addition target from the renewable energy sources is 4,125 mw for the year. While almost all sectors are short of target, the major slip is likely to be in the wind sector, key driver of India’s clean energy capacity addition. Wind sector has added little over half of the targeted capacity during the first 11 months.

Of the 2,380 grid-interactive clean power added during April 2012-February 2013, wind sector contributed 1,282 mw, while the rest was accounted by solar power, bagasse co-generation, small hydro, biomass and waste-to-power at 505 mw, 316 mw, 157 mw, 113 mw, and 6 mw respectively. Besides, 99 mw of off-grid/ captive power generation capacity from different renewable energy sources were also added during the first 11 months of this financial year, according to union ministry of new and renewable energy statement.

By the end of February this year, India’s cumulative grid-interactive renewable energy installed capacity stood at 27,294 mw, of which wind power accounted for 68 per cent, while the rest was accounted by other renewables. Over 12,500 mw of renewable energy has been added in the past three years. Renewable power presently accounts for about 12.5 per cent of total power generation capacity in the country.

Since the government has announced that GBI scheme will be introduced, the capacity addition is to accelerate in the wind sector from next financial year and thereby pushing the overall renewable capacity addition in the country.
The government has set a target to add 30,000 mw of power from renewable energy sources during the 12th Plan period (2012-17) and of which 15,000 mw of power is to come from wind sector. As per current government estimates and targets, renewable energy is expected to account for 16-17 per cent of total power capacity in the country by the end of 12th Plan.

Ramesh Kymal, chairman, Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers’ Association (IWTMA) had said that the reintroduction of GBI scheme by the government would help the wind industry get back to its high growth trajectory and the industry may cross annual capacity addition of 5,000 mw soon from the current level of about 3000 mw plus.