As per the report, installations were significantly higher than the previous quarter despite the second wave of the COVID-19 and related State lockdowns
India has recorded the highest capacity of rooftop solar capacity installed in a quarter, having added 521 MW in April-June this year, as per a report by Mercom India.
A 53 per cent increase quarter-on-quarter compared to 341 MW installed in January-March, rooftop solar installations were up 517 per cent year-over-year compared to the 85 MW installed in April-June 2020.
In Q2 2021, the majority of the rooftop solar installations were in Gujarat, accounting for about 55 per cent of installed capacity this quarter. Maharashtra and Haryana rounded off the top three States for rooftop solar in Q2 2021.
As per the report, installations were significantly higher than the previous quarter despite the second wave of the COVID-19 and related State lockdowns.
The lockdowns were very targeted, and the industry was well prepared this time around, which minimised the effect on installation activity, said the report.
This quarter’s installation numbers were skewed due to a large amount of residential rooftop solar capacity commissioned in Gujarat, it stated.
In the first half of 2021, 862 MW of rooftop solar capacity was added, a 210 per cent increase compared to the same period of last year.
Installations in 1H have already surpassed the total rooftop solar capacity installed in all of 2020 (719 MW) when the market was severely affected by COVID-19 lockdowns.
If the market has no other adverse COVID-related events for the rest of the year, 2021 could be the second-largest year for rooftop solar after 2018, it added.
“The rooftop solar segment had a strong quarter, and demand is up. Finalising the net metering cap at 500 KW has removed uncertainty for installers and paved the way for future growth.”
“However, haphazard rooftop solar policies across States and a lack of support from distribution companies are holding back the sector from realising its true potential to bring in new investment, create jobs and drive the clean energy economy forward,” said Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group.
According to the report, at the end of Q2 2021, cumulative rooftop solar installations reached 6.1 GW.
In Q2 2021, more than 130 MW of rooftop solar projects were tendered, a 69 percent QoQ decrease, but a 46 percent YoY increase, it stated.
The industry witnessed a surge of demand from commercial and industrial (C&I) consumers even during the lockdown from the second wave of COVID-19. The first half of the year could have been much stronger if not for the uncertainty around net metering regulations. With regulatory certainty in place, demand is expected to pick up, though with smaller-sized installations, noted the report.
