- Tata Power says it targets to install 10 GW renewable energy capacity in Rajasthan over the next 5 years
- Most of it should come from solar power as Tata Power Solar will lead the initiative
- It will comprise establishing up to 8 GW utility scale and 1 GW rooftop solar along with 1,50,000 solar pumps
- Gautam Adani of Adani Group said the company will invest INR 500 billion for the 10 GW solar park in the state
Indian energy company Tata Power targets to have a renewable energy portfolio of 10 GW in the state of Rajasthan within next 5 years, comprising up to 8 GW utility scale and 1 GW solar rooftop capacity along with setting up 1,50,000 solar pumps here.
Participating in the state government’s Invest Rajasthan 2022 Summit, Tata power said it will expand its presence in the state through solar power with its fully-owned subsidiary Tata Power Solar since Rajasthan is an important state for its renewable business.
The company currently has a portfolio of 4.94 GW in Rajasthan comprising 2.06 GW commissioned and around 2.87 GW solar projects under construction. These are scheduled to come online within next 2 years.
For solar pumps, it will grow to 1,50,000 pumps from nearly 21,600 already installed in Jaipur, Hanumangarh, Ganganagar, Jalore and Bikaner, while its cumulative installed solar capacity will grow from 65 MW.
Targeting commercial and industrial (C&I) enterprises for rooftop solar, Tata Power shared that it has been doing extensive work for industrial belts like marble, granite and stone crushing etc., in Rajasthan located in regions like Ajmer, Sirohi, Rajsamand, Jalore and Makrana. So far, it has installed 20 MW for some of these industries that have led them to save electricity costs with reduced grid power consumption. Considering the high temperatures Rajasthan experiences during the day, rooftop solar installations have also helped cool down internal temperatures by 4 º C to 5º C.
“Both in terms of potential and what has been done so far, Rajasthan has today emerged as a role model to produce green energy through solar power,” said Tata Power CEO and MD Dr Praveer Sinha. “We will continue to build on all three business – EPC, Solar Pump and Solar Rooftop, to the benefit of farmers, industries and common citizens of this frontier state.”
The company currently employs more than 4,500 people in the state and to realize its ambitions it expects to generate employment for more than 6,000 to 8,000 people over the next 5 years.
Another business conglomerate Adani Group also announced it will invest INR 650 billion ($7.89 billion) in Rajasthan over the next 5 years to 7 years across various sectors, including INR 500 billion ($6.07 billion) on installing 10 GW solar power capacity. It will be commissioned in phases over the next 5 years, said Adani Group boss Gautam Adani.
Back in 2015, Adani Group signed a joint venture (JV) agreement with Rajasthan for India’s largest solar park with 10 GW capacity, with plans to include generation projects and a massive manufacturing unit for solar modules, parts and equipment.
Rajasthan is the sunniest state in India in terms of its installed solar power capacity of over 15 GW, out of more than 60 GW cumulative solar PV capacity the country reported till September 30, 2022, as per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
In February 2022, Rajasthan signed letters of intent (LOI) and memorandums of understanding (MoU) with a number of corporate and public sector units for more than 90 GW of renewable energy capacity to be set up in the state, including Reliance Group’s 20 GW solar power generation assets (see MoUs & LOIs For 90 GW+ RE In Rajasthan).
