New capacity addition in the renewable sector during first quarter of this fiscal was lower at 1,059 MW when compared with 1465 MW in a year ago quarter.

According to Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) data, solar was the major contributor in new capacity increase at 826 MW during April-June 2017 against 1,031 MW previously and wind energy 228 MW.

As on June 30, 2017, total grid connected installed renewable power capacity in India stood at 58,303 (MW), according to the Ministry.

Total capacity of wind power stood at 32,508 MW; Solar 13,115 MW; Bio Power 8182 MW; Small hydro 4,385 MW and waste-to-power 114 MW.

MNRE has fixed a total capacity addition target of 14,550 MW for 2017-18 with Solar expected to add 10,000 MW of new capacity, followed by wind (4000 MW), biopower (340 MW), small hydro (200 MW) and waste to power (10 MW).

At a recent seminar on green energy, Ramesh Kymal, Chairman & Managing Director, Gamesa, said capacity addition for 2017-18 looked extremely difficulty due to stand off in signing power purchase agreements in several States atfeed in tariff rates, while projects under competitive bidding would see generation of power probably only after 12 months from now.

But solar will grow as there has been strong auctions so far in this year and tariffs are falling. But transmission bottlenecks remain.

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