90 GW Solar Leads Rajasthan’s 125 GW Renewable Energy Target
Source：TaiyangNews
India’s leading state in terms of renewable energy and solar energy installed capacity, Rajasthan has set its eyes on achieving 125 GW renewable capacity by 2030. (Photo Credit: TaiyangNews)
Key Takeaways
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Rajasthan’s new clean energy policy targets 125 GW renewable energy capacity by 2029-30
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Solar shoulders the responsibility with the largest chunk of 90 GW, followed by other renewables
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Net metering, virtual power plants and decentralized generation figure prominently in the new policy
The Indian state of Rajasthan, with its vast land reserves, has announced a target to achieve 125 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2029-30, with solar energy contributing the lion’s share of 90 GW. Wind and hybrid projects are sought to add 25 GW, while 10 GW will be contributed by hydro, pump storage plant (PSP), and battery energy storage systems (BESS).
This target features in the Rajasthan Integrated Clean Energy Policy, 2024. It will remain in force until March 29, 2029, or until it is superseded by another policy. Under the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Policy, 2023, the state was targeting 65 GW solar capacity by FY 2030 out of 90 GW renewable energy capacity (see India’s Desert State Aims For 65 GW Solar Energy).
The state government sees this as contributing significantly to the country’s achievement of the 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity target for 2030. However, the National Institute of Solar Energy pegs Rajasthan’s solar energy potential at 142 GW.
Home to the Thar desert, Rajasthan is currently India’s leading state in terms of operational solar energy capacity. Out of the national total of over 92 GW of solar power capacity as of October 31, 2024, Rajasthan accounts for more than 24.53 GW, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
According to the policy document, the state discoms will purchase renewable energy generated as per their Renewable Purchase obligation (RPO). The state will develop such projects for the sale of power to parties other than the state discoms alone for captive consumption, including outside the state.
The state will promote rooftop solar PV systems, with the target of developing all district headquarters and other important areas as Green Energy Cities. Such systems will also be installed on government buildings. Discoms will allow rooftop solar capacity addition of up to 80% of the capacity of the distribution transformer in the area under the net metering arrangement.
Small wind turbines will be allowed with rooftop solar systems under the net metering scheme.
The Gross Metering Scheme will enable the installation of rooftop PV systems with up to 1 MW capacity. Virtual Net Metering and Group Net Metering schemes will also be promoted.
The policy stipulates that the government will make appropriate provisions in Urban Building Bylaws to promote and facilitate the use and installation of rooftop solar systems.
Even decentralized systems with a minimum capacity of 500 kW and a maximum of 5 MW within the premises will be promoted for the sale of power to the discoms. Farmers will be enabled to set up decentralized systems on uncultivable agricultural land.
Under the policy, land conversion will not be required to develop renewable energy parks on private agricultural land.
Government land to develop renewable energy projects will be allotted on a priority basis to the developer/producer who is setting up renewable energy manufacturing unit along with renewable energy project.
The state government promises the following exemptions and reimbursements:
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Exemption from payment of 100% electricity duty for 7 years
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Reimbursement of 100% mandi fee/market fee for 7 years
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Exemption from payment of 75% stamp duty and reimbursement of 25% stamp duty
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Exemption from payment of 75% conversion charges and reimbursement of 25% conversion charges
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Sunrise sectors such as green hydrogen also figure prominently in the policy as Rajasthan aims to become a pioneer state for green hydrogen production and its derivatives, to reduce the need to import ammonia and fossil fuels. It targets to produce 2,000 kilo tonnes per annum (Ktpa) of green hydrogen by 2030.
“The State has a huge and largely untapped potential in terms of intense solar radiation, one of the highest numbers of sunny days in a year and availability of vast barren/uncultivable, unutilized government/private land. These attributes have the potential to make Rajasthan a highly preferred destination for Solar Energy at the Global level,” reads the policy.
Recently, the UAE Ministry of Investment expressed interest in developing a 60 GW renewable energy project, comprising solar, wind and hybrid energy projects, in Rajasthan