India installed 3.6 GW of solar open access capacity in the first half of 2024, marking a 153% increase compared to 1.4 GW during the same period in 2023, according to Mercom India?s Q2 2024 Solar Open Access Market Report. The report highlighted that the capacity added in the first half of 2024 surpassed the total annual installations of previous years, indicating the growing demand for open access solar from industrial and commercial units.
The surge in installations was attributed to the availability of low-cost solar module inventory, which had been procured before the ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) exemption expired. However, the report noted that capacity additions slowed in Q2 2024 as developers postponed installations due to uncertainties surrounding ALMM exemptions. India added 1.8 GW of solar open access capacity in Q2 2024, which represented a slight 2.5% decrease from Q1, but a significant 152% year-over-year (YoY) increase compared to the 712.8 MW installed in Q2 2023.
Karnataka led in solar open access installations in Q2 2024, accounting for over 40% of the total. Alongside Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were among the top five states, contributing to more than 85% of the quarter?s total capacity additions.
As of June 2024, the cumulative installed solar open access capacity reached 16.3 GW, with Karnataka maintaining its lead by accounting for over 30% of the total installations. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu followed, with nearly 14% and 11% of cumulative capacity, respectively. The pipeline for solar open access projects under development and pre-construction stood at nearly 23 GW by June 2024, with Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu hosting more than 81% of these projects.
In the Green Day-Ahead Market (G-DAM), Adani Green emerged as the top seller, contributing over 29% of electricity sold, while Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel was the leading procurer, purchasing nearly 20% of the electricity
