Solar PV Potential Assessment of India
Why it Matters?
The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released the "Solar PV Potential Assessment of India" report.
The report provides a scientifically updated estimate of India's solar energy capacity.
What you should know?
The report estimates India's feasible ground-mounted solar PV potential to be approximately 3,343 GWp. This is a substantial increase from the 749 GWp estimated in 2014.
The assessment was conducted by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) by using advanced methods like high-resolution geospatial analysis and incorporating technical factors such as proximity to substations and road networks.
Key Findings:
The solar potential is well-distributed across the country, not just concentrated in the desert regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Many other states show significant capacity due to favorable solar geometry and land-use efficiency.
This massive potential can be achieved by utilizing just 6.69% of the total identified feasible wasteland across the country.
The findings are directly aligned with India's long-term goals of achieving energy independence by 2047 and net-zero emissions by 2070.