Domestic solar capacity addition grows 27% in 2022 & others-25

Domestic solar capacity addition grows 27% in 2022: Mercom report

• Solar capacity installations in India increased by 27 per cent to 13 gigawatts (GW) during the calendar year 2022, according to a Mercom India report.
• The country's cumulative installed solar capacity now stands at 63 GW, the report said.
• During 2022, large-scale solar projects accounted for 87 per cent of the installations.
• The report further said that "if the government lifts the requirement of (approved list of modules and manufacturers) ALMM-approved modules for domestic solar project development for two years, a significant project capacity will benefit from the expected increase in module availability in 2023 and 2024".

India will play an important role in green energy: PM Modi

• Inviting global investment in the green energy sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India's potential in solar, wind and biogas is no less than a goldmine or an oil field.
• That is why, today, I invite every stakeholder in the energy world to invest in India," he said.
• Talking about the launch of E20 fuel, the Prime Minister pointed out the government’s emphasis on biofuels and said that it has brought new opportunities for investors.
• The Prime Minister pointed out that India has to increase its battery storage capacity to 125 gigawatt hours in the next six-seven years and informed the audience that the government has come out with a viability gap-funding scheme in this Budget to support the battery developers in achieving big goals in this capital-intensive sector.
• Noting that water-based transport is becoming a huge sector in India, he said that India transports only five per cent of its cargo through its coastal routes today, whereas only two per cent of cargo is transported in the country through inland waterways.
• He urged all stakeholders to act quickly to implement every provision of the Budget.

India and France inaugurate workshop on Clean Energy Technologies for a Sustainable Future.

• In a bid to strengthen cooperation between India and France on clean energy, New Delhi called for greater collaboration and highlighted its plans for green transitioning to electric vehicles and hydrogen energy.
• The two countries inaugurated a workshop on Clean and Sustainable Energy Technologies (INFINITE) at CSIR – National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi.
• The INFINITE workshop is aimed at bringing together experts, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders from both countries to exchange knowledge, ideas, and best practices on the development and deployment of clean and sustainable energy technologies.
• He said the government has designed policies, programs, and a liberal environment to attract foreign investments to ramp up the country in the renewable energy market at a rapid rate.
• The country has set ambitious targets for renewable energy and aims to generate 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022.