Advancements in solar parks and ultra-mega solar power projects

The “Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects” has been allocated ₹ 8,100 crores for its development, as said by Raj Kumar Singh, the Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy and Power.

The scheme was introduced first in the year 2014 to overcome the various challenges that come with having dispersed solar panels placed all over the country. Under this scheme, ‘Solar Parks’ were to be set up, which would be a large chunk of land dedicated for the placement of solar panels to accommodate solar project developers so that they could set up projects expeditiously.

The Minister reported that 50 solar parks totaling 37,990 MW have been approved by the government so far, spread across 12 States. Amongst these, 11 solar parks with a combined capacity of 8,521 MW and 7 solar parks with a combined capacity of 3,985 MW have been developed or are nearly complete. Solar plants adding up to a combined capacity of 10,237 MW have been developed in these parks.

In the last three years, and the current year, the power generated by the Solar Parks have increased by 2,292 MW.

The states with the highest sanctioned solar capacity are Gujarat and Rajasthan, with Gujarat having a sanctioned capacity of 12150 MW in 7 solar parks, followed by Rajasthan that has a sanctioned capacity of 8276 MW in 9 solar parks.

Currently, India has one of the largest solar parks in the world that is the Bhadla Solar Park, which covers an area of 56 square kilometers in the deserts of Rajasthan. It has an installed capacity of 2,245 MW.

More than 69,000 hectares of land have already been bought for solar projects. The duty of supplying land for solar parks lies with the relevant State and Union Territory Government. The establishment of Solar Parks on vacant or non-agricultural land is also encouraged by the Solar Park plan.