Jaipur, February 7. Rajasthan has been an ideal location for the establishment of Renewable Energy Projects, as the State has a solar radiation capacity of 5.72 kwh per square meter per day, which is the highest in the country. The state also has the highest number of sunny days with an average of 325 days per year. The total solar power potential of Rajasthan is estimated to be 142 GW that is nearly 19% of the country. The wind power potential of the state is also estimated to be around 127 GW.

Rajasthan ranks first in the country overtaking Karnataka with 8,911Mw installed capacity in solar power projects. 

The State Government will be signing Rs. 3.05 lakh worth of MOU/LOIs on Tuesday in the presence of Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot with Public Sector Units namely NTPC, NHPC, SJVN Limited, THDC India Ltd., SECI and private players like Reliance, Axis and SAEL.

The state holds vast reserves of uncultivable land approximately 125 lakh hectares suitable for renewable energy projects, a robust infrastructure and availability of skilled manpower will facilitate smooth operations of the projects. To encourage the setting up of renewable energy projects in the State, the government has included it in thrust sectors under the RIPS-2019. The mega projects are eligible to apply for a customised package in addition to the thrust sector benefits offered in RIPS 2019. The sector specific policies like Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy, 2019 and the Wind & Hybrid Energy Policy 2019 make Rajasthan even more attractive for investments in the sector. 

‘Invest Rajasthan’ is a campaign aiming at fulfilling the vision to make Rajasthan as the most preferred investment destination in India with the most conducive ecosystem for inclusive, balanced and sustainable industrial development.

The objective of promoting solar, wind and hybrid energy projects in the State is to protect the environment, become self-dependent in regard to power, employment generation, innovations (introduction of new technology) and benefit the industrial and domestic consumers and farmers.

In the past few months, the Domestic and international Investor Connect Programmes have been conducted by the Industries Department (Nodal office: Bureau of Investment Promotion) wherein the State Government has been able to sign 323 MOUs/LOIs worth Rs. 5.73 lakh crore and Summits in Districts were also held wherein 3272 MoUs/LoIs worth Rs. 1.33 lakh crores were signed. The initiative yielded Rs. 4.9 lakh crore of investment in the Energy Sector. The State government also received proposals for Pump Storage Projects, solar equipment manufacturing apart from Solar/Wind/Hybrid projects. 

With the new policies on an anvil such as Green Hydrogen Policy, Electric Vehicle Policy the State Government is committed to Green Energy.

Points to Ponder

Rajasthan with the installed capacity of 8,911Mw solar energy projects ranks first in the country overtaking Karnataka

New Renewable Energy projects with the capacity of approximately 4,800Mw were set up in Rajasthan despite tough situation due to Covid (source:M.N.R.E)

Till now, Renewable Energy Projects of a total 13,387Mw capacity have been established in the State

State Government has issued customised package to 34,200Mw projects in the field of renewable energy under which M/s Adani Green Energy Ltd. will set up a project of 9,700Mw capacity, M/s J.S.W will set up 10,000Mw capacity, M/s Greenco will set up 4,500Mw capacity and M/s Renew Power will set up a project of 10,000Mw capacity. The State will get an investment of approximately Rs 1.50 lakh crore and will create around 16,000 employments

Apart from this, proposals of 18,200Mw projects/parks are in process for customised package

Solar Park of 2,245Mw capacity has been developed at Bhadla in Jodhpur in four phases. At present this is the world's biggest solar park.