Rajasthan becomes the first state in India to exceed 10 GW of cumulative large-scale solar power installations with a total of 32.5 GW of installed power capacity, with renewable energy contributing 55%, thermal energy at 43%, and nuclear energy 2%.
Solar power accounts for around 36% of the power capacity mix and 64% of renewables. Post pandemic, stalled projects were commissioned, and new projects were tendered in Rajasthan. The thermal contribution was the highest during the first quarter (Q1) of FY 2021-22, but renewable power rose through the other quarters. Rajasthan has the highest solar irradiation levels in the country, with other favourable factors like land availability and minimal power curtailment issues. These factors have also encouraged other states, including Maharashtra, to develop projects in Rajasthan to procure power. Other significant projects are developed by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), and the projects developed under the Rajasthan State Solar Policy. Rajasthan has more than 16 GW of solar power projects under development. SECI had awarded projects amounting to 11.6 GW, from which 6.2 GW are interstate transmission system (ISTS) projects. The solar installations increased despite several projects getting stranded due to the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) issue. In February 2022, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) notified that all renewable energy projects, which are under implementation located in the potential territory of the GIB, have an extension of a 30-day extension on the scheduled date of commissioning following the Supreme Court (SC) judgment. It also includes projects whose commissioning is delayed due to non-completion of project transmission infrastructure. Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) India Limited had signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to develop 10 GW solar power projects through a 74:36 joint venture (JV) agreement with Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited at Rs 100 billion. In 2019, Rajasthan released its Solar Energy Policy 2019, which focuses on achieving 30 GW of solar power by the FY 2024-25. From the total, utility or grid-scale solar parks will account for 24 GW, distributed generation 4 GW, rooftop solar power, and solar pumps 1 GW each. Image Source
