Gujarat is making rapid strides into the renewable energy (RE) sector with a slew of mega green energy projects. These projects relate not just to electricity generation but also to equipment manufacturing
AHMEDABAD : Gujarat is making rapid strides into the renewable energy (RE) sector with a slew of mega green energy projects. These projects relate not just to electricity generation but also to equipment manufacturing. Backed by policy initiatives and strong investor support, Gujarat’s renewable power generation capacity is expected to jump to 38,466MW by 2025 and 61,466MW by 2030, according to the state government’s estimates.
At present, the state’s total installed power generation capacity from renewable energy sources — solar, wind, hydel, biomass and bagasse — is about 13,152MW.
“In the next 3-5 years, Gujarat will certainly be a global hub for the renewable energy sector. Our installed capacity to generate power from renewable energy sources is expected to surge to over 38,000MW by 2025 and over 61,000MW by 2030,” said Mamta Verma, principal secretary, energy and petrochemicals department, Gujarat government. “These estimates are based on project plans that have already been finalized. The estimates are likely to be revised soon given the influx of fresh proposals.”
Verma went on to say: “With the state and central government’s policies and positive approach, Gujarat’s dependency on non-renewable energy will be negligible or zero in the coming years.”
To boost electricity generation from renewable energy sources, several mega projects are being implemented across the state. In December 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for a 30,000MW hybrid (solar and wind) renewable energy park in Kutch, billed as the world’s largest of its kind. Spread across 72,600 hectares, the park is being set up near the Indo-Pak border, around 90km from Khavda.
It is estimated that the project will attract an investment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
Recently, the state-run Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) affiliated four power distribution companies signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) for 3,979 small scale-solar power projects (0.5-4MW) with the cumulative generation capacity of 2,500MW. These projects are expected to be commissioned in the next 18 months and they will bring in investments worth Rs 10,000 crore in green energy and allied sectors.
The state has already been working on developing solar energy parks at Dholera near Ahmedabad, and at Raghanesda and Harshad in Banaskantha. A slew of other solar and wind power projects are being set up in the state, which were auctioned by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). Gujarat is the top state in solar rooftop installations.
The state’s renewable energy sector received a shot in the arm last month when Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) announced that the company has started developing the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex on 5,000 acres in Jamnagar. This will have four giga factories to manufacture solar photovoltaic modules, energy storage batteries, fuel cells and electrolyser. RIL will invest Rs 60,000 crore in these initiatives over the next three years. The company will invest another Rs 15,000 crore to provide infrastructure and utilities to manufacture ancillary material and equipment needed to support these giga factories. Reliance will establish and enable at least 100GW of solar energy in India by 2030.
“With the announcement of mega renewable energy projects over the past couple of years, Gujarat is now poised to become a hub for renewable energy power generation and equipment manufacturing as well,” said Kunj Shah, chairman, renewable energy committee, Assocham Gujarat Council. “Given the size and scale of the projects in the renewable energy space, the state has the potential to become a global hub for renewable energy generation and equipment manufacturing.”
Gujarat’s average power demand hovers around 16,500MW and approximately one-third of it is met through renewable power. The state’s average power demand is estimated to rise to 28,500MW by 2030. By then, the state’s installed RE power generation capacity would be more than double the average power requirement.
Gujarat is also fast emerging as a hub of solar and RE equipment manufacturing with RIL being the latest entrant. Adani Solar, India’s largest integrated solar cell and module manufacturer, already operates solar PV cells and modules manufacturing facility at Mundra with a capacity of 1.5GW. The plan is to scale it up to 3.5GW. Adani Group already operates solar and wind power projects with a cumulative capacity of 925MW in Kutch, while projects to the tune of 880MW are either under construction or in the pipeline in the district.
Surat-based solar panel manufacturer Goldi Solar is also planning to raise its manufacturing capacity from 500MW to 2,500MW in a phased manner.
Source : economictimes
