Snapshot
NTPC Renewable Energy Limited has signed an MoU with Rajasthan government for the development of a 10 GW Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park in the state.
NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Rajasthan for the development of a 10 GW (10,000 MW) Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park (UMREPP) in the state.
The company has set a target of 60 GW of Renewable energy capacity by 2032, and this MoU is seen as a step in that direction.
NTPC REL is developing a UMREPP of 4.75 GW capacity in Rann of Kutch, Gujarat.
In less than two years since its inception, NTPC REL has won four GW Renewable Energy capacity by bidding in various tenders under different implementation stages.
The total installed capacity of NTPC is 69,134.20 MW, having 23 coal-based, seven gas-based, one Hydro, and 19 renewable energy projects. Under the joint venture, NTPC has nine coal-based, four gas-based, eight hydro and five renewable energy projects.
Solar Parks In India
According to a global status report, India added around 15.4 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power capacity in 2021, the third-highest after China (136 GW) and the United States (43 GW).
However, the scattering of solar power projects leads to higher project costs per MW and transmission losses.
Individual projects of smaller capacity incur significant expenses in site development, drawing separate transmission lines to the nearest substation, procuring water and creating other necessary infrastructure.
It also takes a long time for project developers to acquire land, get a change of land use and various permissions, etc., which delays the project.
To overcome these challenges, the concept of solar parks was introduced
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) rolled out the scheme “Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects” in December 2014.
Under this scheme, it was proposed to set up at least 25 solar parks, each with a capacity of 500 MW and above, with a target of over 20,000 MW of solar power installed capacity in a span of five years from 2014-15 to 2018-19.
Further, the capacity of the solar park scheme was enhanced in 2017 from 20,000 MW to 40,000 MW. To achieve this target, at least 50 solar parks, each with a capacity of 500 MW and above, were to be set up by 2019-20. Later, in March 2021, the ministry extended the timeline to develop the solar parks totalling 40 GW from 2019-20 to the financial year (FY) 2023-24.
The top four operational solar parks in India, as of November 2021, include Bhadla Solar Park (2,245 MW) in Rajasthan, Pavagada Solar Park (2,050 MW) in Karnataka, Kurnool Solar Park (1,000 MW) in Andhra Pradesh, and Rewa Solar Park (750 MW) in Madhya Pradesh.