The government has finalised plans to set up the world’s largest ultra-mega green solar power project, having a total generation capacity of 4,000 MW, in Rajasthan. The project is proposed to be located close to Sambhar Lake, about 75 km from Jaipur, as per an official note.
The project will be built in the area where Sambhar Salts Ltd (SSL), a subsidiary of Hindustan Salts Ltd, is located. The PSU is into salt manufacturing for both consumer use as well as industrial applications and has over 90 sq miles of production area at Sambhar and Nawa.
The first phase of the project, which will be of 1,000 MW capacity, is likely to be commissioned by the end of 2016 and is expected to be implemented through a joint venture company to be formed with equity from public sector units BHEL, Solar Energy Corporation of India, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, SJVN, SSL and Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments Ltd.
“Based on the experience gained during implementation of the first phase of project, the remaining capacity would be implemented through a variety of models," according to the official note.
Once the 4,000 MW project is fully commissioned, it will generate 6,000 million units of power per annum. The project will supply power to distribution companies of various states through the national grid.
The government has been looking to increase the contribution from renewable energy sources to boost power shortage in the country. In January 2010, the government had launched Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission which set the target of deploying 20,000 MW of grid connected solar power by 2022.
(Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)
