India's Solar Open Access Capacity Doubles to 1.8 GW in Q1 2024

India saw a significant rise in solar open access installations, reaching 1.8 GW in Q1 2024. This growth was driven by lower module costs and supportive policies. Rajasthan led in capacity additions, with Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra following. The cumulative installed capacity now stands at 14.3 GW.

India's solar open access installations surged to 1.8 gigawatts in the first quarter of 2024, doubling from 909.3 megawatts in the previous quarter, according to a report by US-based Mercom Capital.

The report highlighted that the growth was fueled by reduced Chinese module prices and the suspension of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) order. Additionally, lower power purchase agreement prices due to decreased project costs further incentivized the uptake of solar open access, noted Mercom India's Managing Director, Priya Sanjay.

As of March 2024, the cumulative installed capacity reached 14.3 GW, with Rajasthan leading in new additions, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The expanding pipeline of projects under development and pre-construction phases totaled over 18 GW, with a significant majority located in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.