In the first quarter, India's solar power generation exceeded 10TWh for the first time

India generated 11.
3 terawatt hours (TWh) of solar power between January and March 2019
, according to data reported by the Central Electricity Authority.
This is an increase of 16.
5% from the previous quarter and 57% year-on-year, and it is also the first time that India has achieved solar power generation exceeding 10 terawatt hours
in a quarter.

This milestone is a testament to the rapid growth of solar power capacity in India over the past few years as the government emphasizes the push
for renewable energy technologies.
The share of solar energy in India's overall electricity generation also increased to its highest level ever, at 3.
4 per cent
.
The growth in solar power also boosted the share of renewables in the overall electricity mix to 8.
7%, up from 7.
3% in the fourth quarter of 2018 and 7.
5%
in the first quarter of 2018.

In March 2019, electricity generation increased sharply to 4.
3 TWh, accounting for 38%
of total solar power generation in the quarter.
The southern region has overwhelming solar capacity, generating 58%
of the country's total solar energy in March 2019.
In the southern region, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh saw a significant increase in monthly production in March
.

The northern region contributed about 19%
in March.
Here, the power generation of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan grew
significantly month-on-month as well as year-on-year.
The western region contributed 21%
of the country's solar power generation in March.

Overall, total solar power generation in FY2018-19 was 38.
9 TWh, up 51%
from the previous fiscal year.
Solar's share of the total electricity mix in FY2018-19 reached 2.
8%, up from 2%
in FY2017-18.