Kerala sees rapid solar growth, but night-time power use still a challenge

Kochi: Kerala has witnessed a huge rise in solar power, with the installed capacity increasing by 700 MW in a single year.

Despite being a small state, Kerala ranks 10th in the country in terms of solar power projects. According to the Union Ministry of Renewable Energy, Kerala, which began with just 5 MW in 2014–15, has reached 1,723 MW in the span of 10 years.

In addition to large government plants, small-scale and private solar installations, there has also been a notable increase in rooftop solar power systems in recent times.

As per the Union Ministry of Renewable Energy, the installed capacity of rooftop solar power now stands at 1,375 MW. Ground-mounted solar power plants contribute an additional 323 MW.

However, a major challenge remains: all this electricity can be utilised only during the day. Currently, 77 percent of Kerala’s electricity demand is met by purchasing power from outside the state, throughout the day and night. The state also receives electricity from the Centre. As a result, the demand for electricity during daytime hours often exceeds supply from internal sources.

To address this issue, Kerala has initiated steps to establish a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which would store excess daytime electricity for later use. The continued growth of solar energy will only yield full benefits if this expensive but critical storage infrastructure is implemented.