Over $42 Billion Invested in Renewable Energy Sector in India in 4 Years

The country is well on track to achieving 175 GW target of installed renewable energy capacity and trends suggest that the target will not only be achieved but exceeded, MNRE said.

India’s renewable energy sector attracted investments of over $42 billion over the past four years and green energy projects have created over 10 million man-days of employment per annum over the period. These figures are part of the list of 4-years achievements of the Modi government shared by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

“New opportunities have emerged. Altogether new business space has been created. Indian companies have begun to explore foreign stock exchanges as a source of funds. India is progressively becoming a most-favoured destination for investment in renewables. Foreign investors can enter into joint venture with an Indian partner for collaboration and setting up renewable energy-based power generation projects,” the ministry said. 

It added that 100 per cent foreign investment as equity qualifies for automatic approval and the government is also encouraging foreign Investors to set up renewable energy-based power generation projects on build-own-operate basis.

The ministry also said the country’s renewable power installed capacity has already reached over 70 Gigawatt (GW) and over 40 GW of renewable capacity is under construction or has been tendered. “Globally, India stands 4th in wind power, 5th in renewable power and 6th in solar power installed capacity. Solar energy capacity increased by over 8 times from 2.63 GW in 2014 to 22 GW. Wind energy capacity increased by 1.6 times from 21 GW in 2014 to 34 GW,” the statement said.

MNRE also said that trajectories for bidding 115 GW renewable power projects up to March 2020 have been announced and the country is well on track to achieving 175 GW target of installed renewable energy capacity and trends suggest that the target will not only be achieved but exceeded.

Among the other key achievements listed by the ministry are reduction in solar and wind power tariffs to historic lows through transparent tariff based competitive bidding, waiver on inter-state transmission charges, notifying Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) trajectory up to 2019 and notifying a new wind-solar hybrid policy.

Source