India produces 10,500 MW renewable power

New Delhi, Sep 3 (UNI) India produced over 10,467 megawatt of renewable power in June this year as against potential of 84,776 MW, Parliament has been informed.

Of the grid-interactive renewable power, wind power topped the chart at 7,231 MW, followed by small hydro power at 2,013, according to Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Vilas Mutttemwar.

Bio power comprised 1,221 MW, while solar power was abysmally low at 2.12 MW, he said, adding solar energy has yet to attain economic viability in existing conditions.

Meanwhile, Power Minister Shushil Kumar Shinde admitted that only 6,244.6 MW could be commissioned during the 10th plan in the state sector against a target of 11,157 MW. Stating that no power project slipped due to non-availibilty of coal, Mr Shinde disclosed 100 MW gas-based project in Puducherry was dropped from the plan in the absence of requisite gas tie-up.

The Minister said the country lost 4,328.56 million units of power in 2006-07 due to gas shortage but there was no slippage on account of coal.

Of the proposed capacity addition of about 78,000 MW as on August 30 this year, 2,265 MW has already been commissioned and another 51,680 MW is under construction, the Power Minister said, adding the ministry's working group has estimated requirement of Rs 4,10,900 crore for the projected capacity addition during the 11th plan (2007-12).

UNI