Rajasthan has a diverse energy portfolio (excluding coal), with significant contributions from various sources.
IAS Subodh Agarwal
Sustainability is at the core of every development. People have realized that development at the cost of nature is wreaking havoc on our ecosystem. Yearly temperature extremes, flooding, and unpredictable weather have made things difficult for the common man. People want a simple yet sustainable way to harness energy that is affordable and doesn’t harm nature. This is where solar power comes to the fore. IAS, Subodh Agarwalwho worked asAdditional Chief Secretary, Energy Department, CMD, Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited and CMD Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd, shares his views on how Rajasthan is working towards achieving their solar goals.
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Rajasthan has a diverse energy portfolio (excluding coal), with significant contributions from various sources. As of July 2023, the state has over 23 GW of installed wind power, supported by proactive policies like the Wind Hybrid Energy Policy. Hydroelectric power is another key component, with plants along the Chambal and Mahi river basins, including the Rana Pratap Sagar Dam (172 MW), Jawahar Sagar Dam (99 MW), and Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam (140 MW), totaling around 1,758 MW of capacity. The Rajasthan Atomic Power Station in Rawatbhata contributes 1,180 MW of nuclear power. Additionally, Rajasthan generates some electricity from bioenergy, though this is a smaller portion compared to its solar, wind, and hydropower capacities.
“Even though Rajasthan has different sources for generating electricity other than coal, my best bet is on solar energy. Rajasthan has the 2 most important features needed for successful solar energy projects, a vast expanse of unused land and around 300 bright sunny days in a year!” says IAS, Subodh Agarwal.
Rajasthan has a total installed renewable energy capacity of 19,116.80 MW, and solar power alone generates 14,454.70 MW. It also receives high solar radiation, with daily averages between 5-7 kWh/m² which is great for converting electricity.
The state also gets over 300 sunny days per year with minimal cloud cover, ensuring consistent energy generation from solar power plants. Its low average rainfall reduces maintenance and downtime, while high temperatures, averaging 35-41°C and often exceeding 45°C in summer, enhance the efficiency of solar panels. Additionally, Rajasthan's vast, underutilized desert land and sparse population provide ample space for large-scale solar projects.
“With such impressive attributes, Rajasthan is like a goldmine for solar energy projects, however with the aim of 90GW of renewable energy by 2030, a lot remains to be done!” believes IAS, Subodh Agarwal.
There are some challenges to what seems to be a clear road for solar projects. These include a high level of dust and extreme temperatures that reduce photovoltaic efficiency. Costs per unit of solar power remain higher than standard costs per unit of electricity produced from conventional sources; onerous renewable purchase obligations (RPO) requirements act as a virtual deterrent to private sector investment in solar PV systems or developing other RE components. In addition, there are problems associated with grid availability and connectivity (open access), coupled with the added cost burden related to wheeling charges, which have deterred development.
Stranded investments due to land acquisition issues plague many projects; developers face delays in obtaining statutory approvals even after signing Project Development Agreements (Part A) with RRECL. Despite an estimated potential exceeding 100,000 MW3, Rajasthan is only producing about 442 MW as utility-scale plants are dependent solely upon government bids for generating capacity compared to smaller-scale distributive installations.
Government initiatives
As of today, The Rajasthan government has given the nod to land allotment of four new solar projects with a total capacity of 3,000 MW. It includes a 2,450 MW capacity spread over three solar parks in Bikaner district and 500 MW at Phalodi district by NTPC Renewable Energy Limited. These projects entail an investment of around Rs 10,000 crore. The projects are proposed to be completed within two years.
Further, to promote renewable energy in the state, bids have been invited from developers through Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited for setting up 8000 MW solar power projects.
The state is also promoting rooftop solar systems, with plans to install subsidized rooftop solar systems on 500,000 houses in the first phase of the PM SuryagharYojana. Further efforts are being made to increase subsidies and provide other benefits to encourage the adoption of rooftop solar plants.
IAS, Subodh Agarwal, with an optimistic view, says, “With such a concentrated effort from the government and the authorities, there is no doubt that we are going in the right direction. Every journey that is worth it, is full of barriers.” As we move towards a net zero emission world, India has the capability to be one of the frontrunners in the renewable energy front – a renewable energy Vishwaguru and an inspiration for the rest of the world.
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