India, world’s seventh largest country is emerging as a major game player in the sector of clean energy. Recently, the Indian Government gave approval for the development of a massive 5,000 MW solar farm, the one to be the largest in the whole country spanning over an area of 11,000 hectares.
The farm is proposed to be built in Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) near the town of Dholera in Gujarat. The Indian state of Gujarat receives sun for around 300 days of the year and also has strong potential for wind farms as it is located near the windy coastline.
Vijay Rupani, the Chief Minister of Gujarat tweeted that “…this ambitious solar park will attract an ultimate investment of INR 25,000 crores and will generate estimated employment for over 20,000 people.”
The Govt Of Gujarat is happy to approve the establishment of India’s largest Solar Park in Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR).The 5000MW Solar Park would be a giant leap towards fulfilling the ambitious goal of PM Sh @narendramodi to create 175GW of Renewable Energy by 2022
— Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) April 10, 2018
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) of India has also approved the proposition.
According to the Times of India, Jai Prakash Shivhare, managing director of Dholera Industrial City Development Corporation Ltd (DICC) said, “the tender for the first phase of the solar park is set to be out in June itself. The next phase will be undertaken in the subsequent months,”.
Boosting Solar Power for 2022 Renewable Energy Target
The move was made to enhance the production of solar power to meet the ambitious target of 2022 India set for itself. The aim is to create 175 GW of new renewable energy capacity by 2022 with 100 GW of solar, 60 GW of wind, 10 GW of bioenergy and 5GW of hydro energy.
Wind and solar are two major players India relies on. The wind energy sector has already received a massive boost with Siemen Gamesa, (the Spanish firm Gamesa being one of the biggest manufacturing giants of wind farms) bagging the offer to built country’s biggest wind farm In India.
The solar sector failed to meet last year’s energy capacity target planned specifically to meet the 2022 aim. But now the country’s solar field is finally receiving some good light.
When completed, the solar farm in DSIR, Gujarat would be the largest in India, beating the 2,225 MW Bhadla Industrial Solar Park which is now being built in the state of Rajasthan. It will be more than twice as big as the later one.
It will be the sixth addition to solar farms in India, already home to five of the 14 world’s biggest solar farms which are being implemented now. With Indian Government taking huge leaps in the field of clean energy, India aims to surpass its own target.
The project is known to be called ‘over-ambitious’ and ‘unrealistic’ but India is in no mood to back down. Instead, India is sailing ahead. MNRE recently announced that India will be adding 227 GW by March 2022, an additional 52 GW to the target. The ministry is also keen on producing a significant amount of power from thermal resources too.
Looking ahead, let’s see what challenges and surprises lie ahead on the sunny days!