{"title":"Enhancing performance of operational utility-scale solar PV projects in India through re-powering: Potential and techno-economic assessment","authors":"Saurabh Motiwala , Sudarshan Kumar , Ashish Kumar Sharma , Ishan Purohit","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101574","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>India is actively working towards achieving a Net Zero and decarbonization target by enhancing the adoption of renewable energy (RE) technologies (mainly solar and wind), notably solar and wind energy. The nation's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets a 45% reduction in the emissions intensity of its GDP by 2030 from the 2005 level. Additionally, the target for cumulative installed non-fossil fuel-based electric power capacity has been raised to 50 % by 2030. The solar power sector is the most significant contributor in achieving these targets.</div><div>As of February 2024, the total installed capacity of utility-scale solar power in India has surpassed 64 GW, constituting approximately 15% of the country's total installed capacity of 441 GW. Despite this, solar power only contributes around 5% to the overall energy mix. There are several operational limitations with solar projects viz. intermittency, seasonal availability, micro-climatic impacts, and operational & maintenance (O&M) issues, etc. Such projects offer an excellent opportunity for re-powering to tackle the issue of low performance and optimum use of resources (<em>land</em>, <em>evacuation infrastructure</em>, etc.) and enhance energy generation.</div><div>The objective of this paper is to evaluate the techno-economic potential for re-powering of utility-scale solar PV projects in India. The study indicates that the combined capacity for re-powering solar projects within the maximum thresholds of Power Purchase Agreements is 5.33 GWp. However, this capacity could be expanded to 9.6 GWp if the technical limitations are addressed. Repowering projects up to PPA limits could reduce emissions by 5.5 million tCO<sub>2</sub>/MWh to 10 million tCO<sub>2</sub>/MWh annually. According to the techno-economic assessment, repowered energy is the cheapest RE in India, with a Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of INR 1.45/kWh. However, specific policies and regulations for repowering solar PV projects in India are required to benefit project developers, attract investments, and optimize power evacuation infrastructure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101574"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Energy for Sustainable Development","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S097308262400200X","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENERGY & FUELS","Score":null,"Total":0}
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Abstract
India is actively working towards achieving a Net Zero and decarbonization target by enhancing the adoption of renewable energy (RE) technologies (mainly solar and wind), notably solar and wind energy. The nation's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets a 45% reduction in the emissions intensity of its GDP by 2030 from the 2005 level. Additionally, the target for cumulative installed non-fossil fuel-based electric power capacity has been raised to 50 % by 2030. The solar power sector is the most significant contributor in achieving these targets.
As of February 2024, the total installed capacity of utility-scale solar power in India has surpassed 64 GW, constituting approximately 15% of the country's total installed capacity of 441 GW. Despite this, solar power only contributes around 5% to the overall energy mix. There are several operational limitations with solar projects viz. intermittency, seasonal availability, micro-climatic impacts, and operational & maintenance (O&M) issues, etc. Such projects offer an excellent opportunity for re-powering to tackle the issue of low performance and optimum use of resources (land, evacuation infrastructure, etc.) and enhance energy generation.
The objective of this paper is to evaluate the techno-economic potential for re-powering of utility-scale solar PV projects in India. The study indicates that the combined capacity for re-powering solar projects within the maximum thresholds of Power Purchase Agreements is 5.33 GWp. However, this capacity could be expanded to 9.6 GWp if the technical limitations are addressed. Repowering projects up to PPA limits could reduce emissions by 5.5 million tCO2/MWh to 10 million tCO2/MWh annually. According to the techno-economic assessment, repowered energy is the cheapest RE in India, with a Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of INR 1.45/kWh. However, specific policies and regulations for repowering solar PV projects in India are required to benefit project developers, attract investments, and optimize power evacuation infrastructure.
期刊介绍：
Published on behalf of the International Energy Initiative, Energy for Sustainable Development is the journal for decision makers, managers, consultants, policy makers, planners and researchers in both government and non-government organizations. It publishes original research and reviews about energy in developing countries, sustainable development, energy resources, technologies, policies and interactions.
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