This report contains the latest developments and good practices to develop grid connection codes for power systems with high shares of variable renewable energy – solar photovoltaic and wind. The analysis is an update of the 2016 IRENA report Scaling up variable renewable power: The role of grid codes.

In the last 20 years, the People’s Republic of China (hereafter, “China”) has strengthened its position on the global stage as an energy innovator, as illustrated by the stories of solar power and, more recently, electric mobility.

India has made substantial progress in domestic solar module manufacturing capacity in recent years.

The paper studies the design and performance of three schemes Suryashakti Kisan Yojana (SKY) in Gujarat, Surya Raitha Scheme in Karnataka, and the Solar BLDC Pump Pilot in Andhra Pradesh—that predated the launch of KUSUM’s Component C in Tamil Nadu.

This study investigates a community-owned and managed model of solar irrigation (led by women self-help groups) implemented by Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN) in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. It aims to assess the impact of irrigation access on agricultural incomes.

India can potentially create about 3.4 million jobs (short and long term) by installing 238 GW solar and 101 GW new wind capacity to achieve the 500 GW non-fossil electricity generation capacity by 2030 goal. These jobs represent those created in the wind and on-grid solar energy sectors.

India has 21 of the 30 cities with the worst air quality in the world. The transport sector is a major contributor (40%–80%) to air pollution in the cities. Hence, decarbonising the transport sector with the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs)is a crucial step in mitigating air pollution.

The Indian utility-scale RE sector was characterised by contrasting fortunes in 2020 and the first half (H1) of 2021. Interest to invest remained robust even amid the COVID-19 disruption with solar PV and hybrid solar-wind capacity awarded rising 35% year-over-year to 21 GW in 2020.

Rapid growth of distributed photovoltaics (DPV) has upended the paradigm of one-way power from the grid. Solar electricity systems located close to consumers empower them to self-supply and feed into the grid. For utilities, the impacts—positive or negative—depend on how DPV is deployed.