The draft Solar Policy 2019 of Rajasthan aims to establish the state as a global center of solar power with installed capacity of 50 GW in next 5-6 years. 

 

Rajasthan is one of the most solar-developed states in India, with total photovoltaic capacity reaching 2289 MW by June 2018. Dhirubhai Ambani Solar Park, located in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district, has the India’s largest solar parks set up to lead the state with an installed capacity of more than 1,500 MW, followed by Jodhpur and Bikaner.

 

The total installed capacity at the end of June 2018 is 745 MW and the remaining capacity is expected to be operational by 2019. The only tower type solar thermal power plant (2.5 MW) in India is located in Bikaner district. Keeping in view the environment, the industries of Jaipur have also started adopting new technology in renewable energy sector.

 

Dr Rajendra Kumar Joshi, RUJ Group, said, “Ten years ago, renewable power generation started in the state and today these technologies are touching new dimensions. Solar energy electricity has become the alternative source of the traditional electricity and is on the path of progress every year. In Rajasthan, 23,723 lakh units of electricity have been made from solar energy and these are increasing by 10 to 20 percent every year. India should increase its focus on natural sources of generating energy and stop the wastage of natural resources. More and more industries are adapting power plants to save energy and electricity.”

 

The current solar power generation contributes 10 percent of the total electricity consumption in the state and has targeted to increase it to 17 percent by 2021. With 20 projects of 1,500 MW capacity in the pipeline right now, Rajasthan aims to increase its solar power generation to 3,780 MW by April next year to achieve the target of 7,000 MW of clean energy capacity over the next four years.

 

In view of the state government's solar policy, Jayant Joshi, Managing Director of RS India, said, “RS India has installed a solar power plant of 994 kw, which saves electricity bill of about 6 lakhs in a month. This work will also prove effective in reducing pollution in the state with more efficiency and it will help to revert back to mother Earth. Industrial waste plays a big role in affecting the environment, and it is high time all industries start doing their bit to protect the mother Earth and prevent climate changes. Rather than being in denial, companies should step up and start taking measures, the clock is ticking on us and Earth.”

 

The state government of Rajasthan has come out with the draft Solar Policy-2019. The new policy aims to establish Rajasthan as a global center of solar power with installed capacity of 50 GW in next 5-6 years to meet the energy needs of the state and India. It is also envisaged to build R&D Hub in the state for deployment of various combinations of energy technologies and wind-solar based hybrids, which will focus on improving efficiency and reducing balancing system costs in existing applications.

 

The policy aims to achieve 25 per cent of grid connected solar power projects by 2021-22 to meet the renewable procurement obligation of state discoms through solar power. In addition, the State will endeavor to develop solar energy projects for sale to parties within the state and for consumption of captives outside and within the state (other than Rajasthan's discoms).

 

The state will promote the establishment of decentralized grid-connected solar power projects in the vicinity of the existing 33 kV grid sub-stations for the sale of electricity to discoms. The minimum capacity permitted for such projects will be 0.5 MW and maximum  3 MW. The projects will be awarded through a tariff-based competitive bidding process.To promote the development of solar parks, the State 

Government will invest 50 per cent equity (including cost of land) in joint venture companies formed for the development of solar parks of capacity 500 MW or more as per the guidelines issued by the government.