Rajasthan being an ideal location for the establishment of Renewable Energy Projects, many companies are coming ahead and signing Memorandums of Understanding and Letter of Intent with the State Government. The state has a solar radiation capacity of 5.72 kwh per square meter per day, which is the highest in the country. The state also has the highest number of sunny days with an average of 325 days per year. The total solar power potential of Rajasthan is estimated to be 142 GW that is nearly 19% of the country. The wind power potential of the state is also estimated to be around 127 GW.
Rajasthan ranks first in the country overtaking Karnataka with 9,552Mw installed capacity in solar power projects.
The State Government signed Rs. 3.05 lakh worth of MoUs/LoIs with five Public Sector Units namely NTPC, NHPC, SJVN Limited, THDC India Ltd., SECI and three private players like Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd., Axis Energy and SAEL.
The state holds vast reserves of uncultivable land approximately 125 lakh hectares suitable for renewable energy projects, a robust infrastructure and availability of skilled manpower will facilitate smooth operations of the projects.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that it has been the result of policies of the state government to promote investment that today Rajasthan has emerged as a leading State in the country in the field of Solar Energy. Renowned companies and investors in the field of renewable energy are coming to the State for investment. “It is our endeavour that Rajasthan develops in the form of a manufacturing hub of solar equipment and wish that investors also show their interest in this regard. The State Government will extend full cooperation,” he said. Renewable energy production in the State will be more than 90,000Mw with this investment.
He said that the work in renewable energy is going on at such a pace that the day is not far when Rajasthan will play a big role in fulfilling the energy needs of the country. The Government in the last three years took many policy initiatives to promote renewable energy production. He said, “Our Government to make Rajasthan a Renewable Energy Hub released New Solar Energy Policy-2019 and Wind & Hybrid Energy Policy. Also took policy decisions such as RIPS-2019, One Stop Shop system and MSME Act to provide a favourable atmosphere to investors.”
The objective of promoting solar, wind and hybrid energy projects in the State is to protect the environment, become self-dependent in regard to power, employment generation, innovations (introduction of new technology) and benefit the industrial and domestic consumers and farmers.
Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation signed MoUs and LoIs worth Rs 3.05 lakh crore with a capacity of more than 90Gw capacity with five Public Sector Units and three private companies. NTPC will set up 10Gw with an investment to the tune of of Rs 40,000 crore, NHPC Ltd with an investment of Rs 20,000 crore will set up 10Gw, Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam to set up 10Gw of Rs 50,000 crore THDC India Ltd to set up 10Gw power project of Rs 40,000 crore, SECI to establish 2Gw of Rs 9,000 crore, Reliance Group to set up 20Gw of Rs 1 lakh crore, Axis Energy Group to set up 28Gw Solar Park, Solar Projects and 4GW Solar Module Manufacturing of Rs 37,000 crore and Sukhveer Agro Group to set up 2Gw solar park/projects and 100Mw biomass of Rs 9,000 crore.
Sukhveer Agro Group Director Sukhveer Singh said that the support that the investors are getting in Rajasthan is really praiseworthy. Land acquisition, power purchase agreement and other necessary processes were completed in a speedy manner which shows the strong willpower of the State Government.
Similarly, Tihari Hydro Development Corporation CMD RK Vishnoi said the initiative taken by the State Government to promote solar energy generation is a model for other states. Axis Energy CMD Ravi Kumar Reddy said that in Rajasthan, the process of providing land was completed in a short span of four months and such an easy process of land acquisition is not there in other states.
Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam CMD Nandlal Sharma said the corporation has got an opportunity to contribute in the field of renewable energy in Rajasthan and will make efforts to complete it on time.
Solar Energy Corporation of India MD Suman Sharma praised the investment-friendly policies of the State Government.
Points to Ponder
Rajasthan with the installed capacity of 9,552Mw solar energy projects ranks first in the country overtaking Karnataka
New Renewable Energy projects with the capacity of approximately 4,800Mw were set up in Rajasthan despite tough situation due to Covid (source:M.N.R.E)
Till now, Renewable Energy Projects of a total 14,328Mw capacity have been established in the State
State Government has issued customised package to 34,200Mw projects in the field of renewable energy under which M/s Adani Green Energy Ltd. will set up a project of 9,700Mw capacity, M/s J.S.W will set up 10,000Mw capacity, M/s Greenco will set up 4,500Mw capacity and M/s Renew Power will set up a project of 10,000Mw capacity. The State will get an investment of approximately Rs 1.50 lakh crore and will create around 16,000 employments
Apart from this, proposals of 18,200Mw projects/parks are in process for customised package
Solar Park of 2,245Mw capacity has been developed at Bhadla in Jodhpur in four phases. At present this is the world’s biggest solar park.
