India Installs 1.7 GW of Solar Capacity in Q2 2023

India installed 1.7 GW of solar capacity during the second quarter (Q2) of 2023, down 58% year-on-year (YoY), according to Mercom India Research's Q2 2023 India Solar Market Update. On a quarterly basis (Q00), installations decreased by 10%. Priya Sanjay, Managing Director at Mercom India, noted that multiple reasons impacted capacity expansions during the quarter. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) extended commissioning deadlines for several solar and solar wind hybrid projects until March 2024, three times between December 2022 and June 2023. Module price fluctuations, supply constraints and uncertainties surrounding the approved list of models and manufacturers (ALMM) contributed to project delays in Q2 and the first half (1H) of 2023.

Challenges to land acquisition, power evacuation and tariff re-approval of power purchase agreements by state regulatory commissions also contributed to delays.