This decade has re-defined the energy paradigm with renewables surging to all time high installations. Globally renewables contribute a significant amount to the energy mix in developed countries. Continents like the America’s, Europe and Asia have installed more renewables in the last few years than in the last century with Wind, Solar taking the lead with rapid technology strides increasing efficiencies substantially yearly.

Solar plant CUF’s now cross 20%+ on a regular basis and play a vital role in meeting demand during the day especially for local needs. MWp Grid based solar power constitute 99% and over of the installed capacity of Solar. India has seen some rapid price drops due to this very fact and within the next couple of years Off Grid and Residential Solar stands to be a reality in Rural India which continuously suffers from poor supply issues.

Various states have come out with new policies on Solar catering majorily to large sized projects. Net metering is still a relatively new concept with installations almost non-existent. Wind in India has really been a corporate game of tax incentives with power only generated 6 months in a yearly making it a highly esoteric medium of power which in no way can replay conventional power plants.

Solar CSP has seen tremendous difficulties due to insufficient DNI data and water and is almost a failure with MNRE trying to revive the technology through a few demo projects. Storage using Hydro would overcome the shortfall of day only power of Solar and provide a grid sized storage capability covering growth for the next few years.

The table below tries to compare conventional vs renewable power sources thereby bringing in the clarity that the age of renewables has now dawned with this and the next decade completely dedicated to the growth of Renewables.