In the second quarter (Q2) of the calendar year 2024, India scaled a new high with solar power generation reaching 36 billion units (BU), a 17.6% increase year-over-year (YoY).

India added 10.1 GW of solar capacity in Q1 2024, a 399.4% increase from Q1 2023 when only 2 GW was installed. The country’s cumulative installed solar capacity stood at 82.1 GW at the end of Q1, according to Mercom India Research’s Q1 2024 India Solar Market Update.

Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka led the solar power generation during the quarter. Rajasthan was the leader with 12.7 BU. Tamil Nadu was second at 4.8 BU, increasing from 3.9 BU in Q1. Karnataka ranked third with 4 BU compared to 4.3 BU in Q1 2024.

Solar generation in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu was up 25.9% and 20.9% QoQ, respectively. Higher irradiance due to the summer season and significant capacity additions in the previous quarter drove solar power generation in the two states. In Karnataka, however, solar generation fell by 6.7% QoQ due to the early onset of the monsoon.

The northern region generated the highest solar power during the quarter, with nearly 15 BU, accounting for 41.5%. Southern and western regions followed with 12.2 BU and 8.5 BU, making up 33.7% and 23.6%, respectively. The eastern and northeastern regions contributed 1.1% and 0.2% to the quarterly solar generation, respectively.

To speed up the development of solar parks by central public sector undertakings or their joint ventures, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy waived the requirement of mandatory vetting of Detailed Project Reports by state government committees.

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