Solar power leads capacity growth in April-July as coal generation falls

Under the guidelines laid out by Central Electricity Authority, thermal plants that have completed 25 years will either wind up or switch to less polluting, super-critical technologies

Solar power recorded the highest capacity growth at 1,371 Mw during April-July, a period when 244 Mw of thermal capacities retired. Under the guidelines laid out by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), thermal power plants that have completed 25 years in commercial operations will either wind up or switch to less polluting, super-critical technologies.

At the end of July 2018, the country's total installed power capacity stood at 345.5 Gw, a net capacity addition of 1,500 Mw. Fresh capacities in power were added entirely by renewable sources such as solar, wind and small hydro.

At the same time, total thermal power capacity