Solar power to be single largest source in nation from next decade

Chennai

In the Report on Optimal Generation Capacity Mix for 2029-30, CEA revealed that the solar power generation capacity climbs to 2.80 lakh MW in 2029-30, which accounts for 34 per cent of the total installed capacity of 8.17 lakh MW.

The share of the coal-based thermal plants in the energy mix would come down to 32 per cent in 2029-30 from 55 per cent in 2019-20, the report which is based on the renewable energy capacity addition of 1.75 lakh MW by 2022 and another 1 lakh MW by 2027. The total installed capacity of the country in 2019 was 3.63 lakh MW which comprises of 63 per cent of fossil fuel.

CEA study estimates that non-fossil fuel sources comprising of solar, wind, hydro, biomass and nuclear-based generation capacity would be 64 per cent of the total installed capacity and non-fossil fuels account for the rest. However, the non-fossil fuels generation contribution is likely to be around 44 per cent of the gross electricity generation in 2029-30.

As per generation expansion planning studies, the carbon-dioxide emissions from the power sector during 2029-30 is likely to be 1287 million tones (MT). The total CO2 emissions have increased from 806 MT in 2914-15 to 922 MT in 2017-18. However, the average emission rate is likely to decrease from 0.726 kg/kilowatt hour in 2014-15 to 0.511 kg/kWh in 2029-30.

AD Thirumoorthy, member of the State Working Group of Renewable Energy, Tamil Nadu Government said that the large-scale integration of renewable energy would be possible in the country if the pumped hydro storage and battery storage comes up to store excess renewable power. “With technological advancement in the renewable energy sector and continuing fall in the cost of the RE sources, the non-fossil fuel leading the energy generation would be possible,” he noted.