Rajasthan became India's top solar hub in just a decade

Rajasthan’s Solar Energy JourneyOverview:

• Rajasthan has emerged as India’s top solar hub in just a decade, transforming its vast desert areas into major solar energy production zones.
• Policy support, geographical advantage, and large-scale investments have been key drivers.

Key Milestones:

1. 2014: Launch of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects Scheme by the Centre; Rajasthan among earliest participants.
2. 2017: Bhadla Solar Park development begins; competitive SECI auctions set record-low solar tariff of ₹2.44/unit.
3. 2020: Installed solar capacity ~5.1 GW.
4. 2021-2022: Rajasthan adds 6.7 GW of new solar and wind capacity; by mid-2022, ~13 GW installed.
5. 2023: Global investments (Brookfield, Masdar, ReNew) support expansion.
6. 2024-2025: Installed capacity surpasses 32 GW; Bhadla becomes world’s largest solar park (2,245 MW).

Reasons for Leadership:

• Geography: High solar irradiation (5.5–6.5 kWh/m²/day) and vast arid land.
• Policy & Planning: Early adoption of Centre’s Solar Park Scheme, clear land aggregation framework, state-level support reducing developer risk.
• Scale: Large-scale solar parks like Bhadla with ready infrastructure and competitive auctions.
• Transmission Infrastructure: Investments via Green Energy Corridor-I & II ensure evacuation and grid flexibility.

Future Prospects:

• Expansion into hybrid projects integrating solar, wind, and storage technologies.
• Designated for National Green Hydrogen Mission – suitable for large-scale green hydrogen production.
• Rajasthan expected to remain India’s leading solar state, contributing to the 500 GW renewable energy target by 2030.

Key Figures:

• Bhadla Solar Park: 2,245 MW.
• Rajasthan solar capacity (July 2025): 32.32 GW.
• Solar tariff benchmark: ₹2.44/unit in 2017.
  
  Updated -  Aug 19 2025 | 12:54 AM | https://www.business-standard.com/