Comparison of Solar Policies Framed by Leading States Having Highest Solar Power Capacity in India

Abstract

One of India’s major advantages today and going forward is that its renewable energy (RE) potential is vast and largely untapped. Recent estimates show that India’s solar potential is greater than 750 GW and its announced wind potential is 302 GW (actual could be higher than 1000 GW). India Energy Security Scenarios 2047 show a possibility of achieving a high of 410 GW of wind and 479 GW of solar PV by 2047. The potential of biomass and small hydro is also significant. Thus, renewable energy has the potential to anchor the development of India’s electricity sector.India has a high potential of harnessing solar energy. Along with a central level ministry for new and renewable energy that has its set of rules and goals, individual states have their own set of policies regarding renewable energy. With different states having different potential and goals to achieve, the approach taken by these states to increase their renewable energy use is different. The paper examines solar policies of five Indian states leading in solar power production – Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Gujarat. It also examines different measures that the states have undertaken to promote solar power and learnings from each top performer state policy in the country. This study can be used as a reference for different stakeholders and researchers to understand the solar policies and tools used by different states to promote solar power and how these can be applied to various states to increase their share in the national solar capacity.