The involvement of the Government of India has significantly contributed to the increase in the generation and consumption of solar energy as Indians have been opting the renewable source of solar energy. This huge impact would have not been possible to achieve without the huge solar farms that work all day converting solar energy into usable electrical energy.

Economical and Ecological contribution of solar farms

Energy

These contribute to the reduction of the carbon footprint by generating a natural source of energy in large quantities that is clean and does not emit harmful greenhouse gases.

Cost

In India, where solar radiation levels are among the highest in the world, solar energy is becoming a cost-competitive option, particularly in remote and rural areas with inadequate infrastructure, these farms provide a cost-effective and environment-friendly alternative to conventional electricity sources.

Employment

The construction and operation of solar farms creates jobs across many industries, including engineering, construction, operations, and maintenance. The Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) estimates that solar energy could generate around one million jobs by 2030.

Land

It can be constructed on a variety of land, including fallow or degraded land that might otherwise be unusable.

Challenges Solar farms in India face

Land

Large tracts of territory are needed for solar farms, which can be difficult to find in India due to its dense population. Land conflicts and the reluctance of landowners to sell their properties can cause projects to be delayed.

Grid

To transmit the electricity that solar farms produce to consumers, a reliable grid infrastructure is needed. Grid integration issues may result in power outages and the reduction of solar energy because India’s grid infrastructure is not yet ready to manage the large-scale deployment of solar energy.

Cost

Despite the fact that the cost of solar energy equipment has significantly decreased, financing has been a major obstacle to the development of solar farms in India, though it has decreased considerably due to government incentives.

Solar Farms in India

Bhadla Solar Park

Bhadla Solar Park is located in Bhadla, Rajasthan, India, and is spread over 14,000 acres. The park has a total capacity of 2,245 MW, making it the world’s largest solar park. The region is known for its extreme climate, with temperatures reaching up to 48 degrees Celsius and frequent sandstorms. When fully operational, the park will be the world’s largest fully commissioned PV project with an investment of US$1.3 billion.

Pavagada Solar Park

Pavagada Solar Park is the second largest photovoltaic solar park in the world, located in Pavagada taluk, Karnataka, India. Covering an area of 53 square kilometers, the park has a capacity of 2,050 MW and was completed in 2019.

Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park

Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park is a solar park located in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India, covering 5,932.32 acres with a capacity of 1,000 MW. The park was built with an investment of US$980 million by solar power developers and the Central and State governments, and commissioned on March 29, 2017. It is owned by Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited (APSPCL).

NP Kunta Ultra Mega Solar Park

The NP Kunta Ultra Mega Solar Park, also known as Ananthapuram Ultra Mega Solar Park, is a solar park located in the Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The park covers an area of 7,924.76 acres and was commissioned in May 2016. It is owned by Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited (APSPCL).

Rewa Ultra Mega Solar

The Rewa Ultra Mega Solar project is the first solar project in India to break the grid parity barrier and is Asia’s largest single-site solar plant. It is implemented by RUMSL, a joint venture between MPUVNL and SECI. The project supplies power to an inter-state open-access customer, Delhi Metro, and is the first project in India to use solar power for railway traction. The project received the World Bank Group’s President’s Award for excellence for its transaction structure.

Charanka Solar Park

The Gujarat Solar Park-1, also known as Charanka Solar Park, is being developed on a 2,000-hectare plot of land near Charanka village in Patan district, northern Gujarat.

Kamuthi Solar Power Project

The Kamuthi Solar Power Project is a photovoltaic power station located in Kamuthi, Ramanathapuram district, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It covers an area of 2,500 acres and is situated 90 km from Madurai.

Kadapa Ultra Mega Solar Park

The Kadapa Ultra Mega Solar Park is a solar park situated in the Mylavaram mandal of Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh. It covers an area of 5,927.76 acres and is being implemented by the Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited, which is a joint venture between SECI, Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation, and the New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd.

Since India is an ideal place to generate solar energy, all the solar farms mentioned above contribute to the energy production and thanks to technology and government’s initiatives, it will be possible to accomplish the goal of generating the maximum amount of renewable energy, ultimately leading to a cleaner environment for all.