Rajasthan targets 3,780 mw solar capacity by April next year
With 20 projects of 1,500 MW capacity in the pipeline, Rajasthan is targeting to increase its solar power generation to 3,780 MW by April next year in order to achieve the goal of 7,000 MW clean energy capacity in the next four years. The current solar power generation is contributing 10% to the total power consumption in the state.
Aiming to increase solar power generation to 17% by 2021
Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Managing Director BK Doshi said they are targeting to increase solar power generation to 17% by 2021. He said that solar power installation capacity in the state has reached 2,280 MW by March this year and 20 projects of total 1500 MW are under pipeline and will be commissioned and start generating power by April next year.
Work on various solar projects are going on
The second phase of Bhadla solar park near Jodhpur has been commissioned (680 MW) and its third phase (1000 MW) is in progress, said Doshi. Under the third phase of Bhadla park, 500 MW will be commissioned in September this year and 500 MW by April next year. The fourth phase of 500 MW will also be commissioned by April, said Doshi.
Three more solar projects are under the pipeline
Of the total 1,500 MW projects, which are scheduled to be commissioned by April next year, 10 are of the capacity of 100 MW each and 10 of 50 MW each, the director said. Other solar power projects which are in the pipeline are the Pokran-Phalodi solar park (750 MW), Fatehgarh phase 1B (1500 MW), and Nokh Jaisalmer (1000 MW)
Last financial year, Rajasthan added 496 MW solar power
The state has huge potential for the solar power generation but it could add just 496 MW in the last financial year, which is less than the fiscal year of 2016-17 where the state had added 500.55 MW.
Potential of solar power generation is higher in Rajasthan
Doshi informed that the capital cost of setting up a solar plant in present is approximately Rs. 4 crore per MW which was quite higher earlier, therefore, the tariff at which the power is being purchased from companies is different depending upon their cost of production. Potential of the solar power generation is higher in Rajasthan but still, it lags behind Karnataka and Telangana.
Solar power capacity in Karnataka is 4,884.56 MW
The solar power installed capacity in Karnataka and Telangana is 4,884.56 MW and 3,336.42 MW respectively while Andhra Pradesh is generating 2,148 MW solar power, according to officials concerned of the respective states.
Rajasthan also generates 4,292.54 MW from wind
Rajasthan also generates 4,292.54 MW from wind and 120.45 MW from biomass (upto Dec'17). Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy estimates the desert state's potential in wind energy is 18,770 MW. However, the state couldn't add any generation of power from wind in 2017-18 as no company opted Rajasthan to set up plan in the state in Solar Energy Corporation of India biddings.
Energy efficiency methods in industries
An official informed that various industries in Rajasthan have put in place energy efficiency methods and have saved almost 222.3 million units of electricity and 2,73,660 MT coal in last two years.
