Gujarat Leads India in Solar Power with Charanka Solar Park and Rooftop Initiatives
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], September 21: Gujarat is making great strides in renewable energy, especially solar power, helping India reach its goal of 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030. The state has installed over 28 gigawatts of renewable energy, with 14.5 gigawatts coming from solar power.
Solar Power Initiatives
Gujarat’s solar power efforts include solar panels on government buildings and homes, as well as large solar parks. Jai Prakash Shivahare, MD of Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd., highlighted that Gujarat leads the country in residential solar rooftops, contributing more than 50% of the national total.
Charanka Solar Park
One of the state’s major achievements is the Charanka Solar Park in Patan district, which spans over 5,000 acres and has a capacity of over 600 MW. This park has transformed barren land into a productive area, creating jobs and setting an example for public-private partnerships in renewable energy.
Dhruv Patel, a worker at Charanka Solar Park, said, “Charanka is Asia’s number one solar plant. It has provided us with employment and benefits everyone by supplying power to our village and city.”
Future Goals and Policies
Under the RE policy 2023, Gujarat aims to install 100 GW of renewable energy by 2030. The state is also exploring hybrid projects that combine wind and solar power. The policy provides a stable framework for investors, including land allotment, connectivity on demand, and off-ticker guarantees.
Jai Prakash Shivahare added, “The RE policy covers offshore wind and emerging technologies. State utilities like GUVNL provide off-ticker guarantees, ensuring project viability and easy financing.”
Recognition and Impact
During the 4th Global Renewable Energy Investors Meet and Expo in Gandhinagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Gujarat’s leadership in renewable energy. He also met beneficiaries of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, a government scheme promoting rooftop solar.
Gujarat’s efforts in renewable energy serve as a model for other states, demonstrating how local initiatives can drive sustainable development and a greener future.
Doubts Revealed
Gujarat -: Gujarat is a state in western India. It is known for its rich culture, history, and now, its leadership in solar energy.
Solar Power -: Solar power is energy from the sun that is converted into electricity. It is a clean and renewable source of energy.
Charanka Solar Park -: Charanka Solar Park is a large area in Gujarat where many solar panels are installed to generate electricity from sunlight.
Rooftop Initiatives -: Rooftop initiatives involve installing solar panels on the roofs of buildings to generate electricity.
Gigawatts -: A gigawatt is a unit of power equal to one billion watts. It is used to measure large amounts of electricity.
Patan district -: Patan district is an area in Gujarat where the Charanka Solar Park is located.
600 MW -: 600 MW stands for 600 megawatts, which is a unit of power. One megawatt is equal to one million watts.
100 GW -: 100 GW stands for 100 gigawatts, which is a very large amount of power. Gujarat aims to have this much renewable energy by 2030.
Hybrid projects -: Hybrid projects combine different types of renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, to generate electricity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi -: Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India. He praised Gujarat’s efforts in solar energy.
4th Global Renewable Energy Investors Meet and Expo -: This is an event where people from around the world come together to discuss and invest in renewable energy projects.
Gandhinagar -: Gandhinagar is the capital city of Gujarat, where the renewable energy event took place.