In 2015, India achieved its target of 20 GW capacity for 2022, four years ahead of schedule. In 2017, it was the first time when solar energy was on the top list of new power sources in India. And in 2019, the country became the lowest-cost producer of solar power across the globe.
In the last ten years, the solar power capacity of the country has expanded 233 times with astronomical growth. The reason behind this rocketed growth is the timely arrival of pro-solar policies which has led to increased investment in the sector.
With favouring policies and low-cost production, India is now the new playing-field for setting up solar power systems, both residential (rooftop) and commercial.
In this part of Solar Profile of India, we have listed down a few solar power plants in India. Here is the list;
1. Bhadla Solar Park
Location: Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Total Capacity: 2,245 MW
Total Area: 10,000 acres
Bhadla Solar Park, the world largest solar park as of March 2020 is located in Bhadla, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. The region around the plant experience a dry climate with high temperature and is covered with sand.
2. Pavagada Solar Park
Location: Tumkur, Karnataka.
Total Capacity: 2,050 MW
Total Area: 13,000 acres
The plant is atop an elevated plateau surrounded by rocky hills. The region receives high solar radiation and very little rainfall. It is located in a semi-arid zone and has been declared drought-hit by the states government 54 times in the past 6 decades.
3. Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park
Location: Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
Total Capacity: 1,000 MW
Total Area: 5,932 acres
The plant is located in the arid region and constantly receives high-intensity sunlight.
This plant in fact once was the largest solar plant in the world with a capacity of 950 MW. In May 2017, the region was hit by a strong thunderstorm which uprooted some installed solar panels and also damaged few other facilities.
4. Rewa Ultra Mega Solar
Location: Rewa, Madhya Pradesh
Total Capacity: 750 MW
Total Area: 1,590 acres
Located almost at the centre of India, this plant is the first project to get funding from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) in India.
It was auctioned in three packages of 250 MW each. It is one of the largest single-site solar power plants in India and the world. With unique structuring, it caters to the needs of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
5. Charanka Solar Park
Location: Patan, Gujarat.
Total Capacity: 615 MW
Total Area: 4,900 acres
Also known as Gujarat Solar Park-1, this plant was commissioned in 2012. It has the state of the art infrastructure with provision to harness rainwater besides power distribution at the doorsteps. Additionally, at the time of its commissioning, it was the third-largest solar plant in the world.
5. Kamuthi Solar Power Project
Location: Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu
Total Capacity: 648 MW
Total Area: 2,500 acres
This plant at a single location is the world’s 12th largest solar park based on capacity. The plant consists of 2.5 million solar modules, which are cleaned daily by a self-charged robotic system.
6. NP Kunta Ultra Mega Solar Park
Location: Ananthapur, Andhra Pradesh.
Total Capacity: 1500 MW (Operational: 500 MW)
Total Area: 7,925 acres
The plant holds the capacity of 1500 MW, however, only 500 MW is currently operational. 750 MW is still under construction. The first phase of the park was commissioned in 2016 with a capacity of 200 MW. An additional 300 MW capacity was commissioned in 2017 and 2018.