India’s increasing efforts towards the expansion of solar in order to make it a primary source of energy has led to a substantial increase in solar power generation.

Solar power generation in the first quarter (Q1) of calendar year (CY) 2018 spiked by 103 percent year-over-year (YoY) compared to the solar power generated in Q1 of CY 2017, according to data released by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

Compared to the 4,210 million units (MUs) generated by solar projects in Q1 of 2017, solar generated 8,536 MUs in Q1 2018.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, solar power accounted for over 6.5 billion units (BU) of electricity produced in India. Compared to the last quarter (Q4) of 2017, solar energy generation witnessed growth of 31 percent quarter-over-quarter (QoQ).

India achieved a milestone 20 GW in cumulative solar installations in January 2018. Solar Installations in Q1 2018 surged due to the commissioning of several large solar projects that could not get connected to the grid in 2017.

As of March 31, 2018, per Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, over 22 GW of solar have been installed in the country.

Although progress has been impressive, Solar still has a long way to go to become the leading source of energy generation in India.

Mercom previously reported that in the calendar year 2017, total solar electricity generation in the country yielded over 21.5 billion units (BUs), a huge increase of over 86 percent from the 11.6 BU generated in the preceding year of 2016.

India’s solar sector could grow faster if several lingering issues are addressed by government agencies sooner rather than later. Chief among them include:  the possible anti-dumping duty, the proposed safeguard duty, and the misclassification of solar modules at ports.