21,142 MW solar, wind power projects under construction in India

The government had tendered projects of 31,500 MW capacity, of which 23,246 MW projects were awarded to the developers.

New Delhi (Natural Energy News): 21,142 MW (MW) solar and wind power projects are currently running in India at over 88,000 MW and above the already installed generation capacity based on two clean resources.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the country's top power sector planning body, said in a report that the projects are being built in major resource-rich states including Rajasthan, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh and have been bid under several schemes.

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The report also said that the government has tendered projects of 31,500 MW capacity, out of which 23,246 MW projects were awarded to the developers.

These projects were awarded under programs like Solar Energy Corporation of India's 2-GW ISS-Connected Scheme, 750 MW Rajasthan Projects, 150 MW Grid Connected Floating Solar PV Plants, 750 MW Kadapa Solar Park Project, KPSU Scheme Installment-I Gone. 2 GW and Trache-2 of 1,500 MW each, and nine instalments of SECI wind plans.

The data on under-construction renewable energy projects shared in the report showed multiple runs overtime over the course of several projects. The 250 MW project of Mahindra Renewables in Rajasthan - to be developed in Jodhpur and bid under the 2-GW ISS-connected solar project plan - has been rescheduled from the earlier date of 25 October 2020 to 31 January 2021. The originally scheduled completion date of ACME's Deoghar solar project was November 8, 2020, which has now been moved to January 7, 2022.

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The report also noted that of the 61 solar power projects awarded by SECI, 42 have taken advantage of the timeline extension due to the COVID-19 epidemic, in line with the government's earlier order.

The rescheduling of commission dates has also been seen in several projects in the wind energy sector, including three projects which have been won under the Trench-3 scheme, shifted from November 24, 2019, to April 8, 2021.

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The delay in project construction is due to the delay in power purchase and execution of power supply agreements; Land allocation issues; Delay in finalizing the ISTS substation location; And delays in readiness of power drainage infrastructure.