50 GW Renewable Energy Parks Planned in Gujarat & Rajasthan
Indian Government aims to set-up two Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks of 25 GW each in the state of Gujarat and Rajasthan. The plan is for setting up solar, wind and wind hybrid plants. The ministry has identified Khavada in Gujarat and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan for these parks. Once competed this could be the world’s largest renewable energy investment programme.
As per Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Year-end Review- 2019 report “Renewable Energy Sector Makes rapid Strides in 2019” dated 9th Jan 2020, the Development of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPPs) was a major initiative undertaken in 2019 in line with the objective of expanding renewable energy sector. The objective of UMREPP is to provide land and facilitate transmission infrastructure to the project developer along with a storage system (If required).
MNRE In Action
MNRE has written letters to the developers informing about setting up solar, wind and wind hybrid plants. It has also informed that the proposed land for the parks has all necessary clearances from state governments and the Defence ministry.
MNRE has also informed in the letter that the Ministry of Power has been requested to strengthen transmission to these locations within 24 months for evacuation of power from these parks.
Project Developer’s View
As mentioned in Economic Times dated 17th February 2020, Tata Power Managing Director, Praveer Sinha said “It is a great opportunity to leapfrog India’s quest for clean energy.” He also said. “With new solutions of solar, wind, hybrid, storage and demand response, we will be able to cater to electricity requirements with better load management.” In the same article Himanshu Mishra, Vice President of SunSource Energy Pvt Ltd, mentioned “The ultra-mega parks may help pull down renewable energy prices”.
Renewable Energy Targets of India
On 23rd September 2019 at United Nations Climate Action Summit held in USA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced about increasing the target of renewable energy capacity to 450 GW beyond 175 GW* to be achieved by 2030.
* In 2017 during the Paris Climate summit, the commitment was made towards the creation of 175 GW (100 GW Solar, 60 GW Wind, 10 GW Biomass and 5 GW Small Hydropower) renewable energy by 2022.