Three years from now, the inhospitable desert in the Rann of Kutch will host the largest operational renewable energy park in the world, almost the size of Singapore with a whopping power generation capacity of 30 GW (gigawatts). India is undertaking the construction of this mammoth hybrid renewable energy project in Gujarat, called the Khavda Renewable Energy Park, at an estimated cost of $2.26 billion.
Spread across an area of 726 sq km, which is almost the size of the entire nation of Singapore, the park will harness both solar and wind energy to power nearly 20 million homes.
When the Rann Struck Gold
The Rann of Kutch is a hostile salt desert where the summers are unsparingly hot at temperatures reaching 50°C, the winters hit sub-zero levels and where monsoon rains convert the desert into a gruelling marshland. The international boundary between India and Pakistan passes through this desert, making it one of the most daunting international borders in the world.
But in December, 2020, landholders in the wasteland struck gold when Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for this grand hybrid renewable energy project that would revolutionise the fate of the Kutch district of Gujarat and its residents. He also said the wide expanse of wind turbines along the international border would make the borders more secure.
Construction activity has taken off with more than 4,000 workers and 500 engineers deployed on the field to turn the salt marshy desert into a blue sea of solar panels dotted with wind turbines visible from space.
Aiming For Clean Energy Transition
Needless to say, the innovation and technology will be the greatest renewable energy undertaking the world has ever seen, highlighting India’s dedicated commitment to its renewable energy goals to build a total non-fossil fuel energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030 from the current 130 GW, and reach net zero emissions by 2070.
The project’s 20 GW has been assigned to Adani Green Energy Limited. Other major contributors include Sarjan Realities, state-run NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation), Gujarat Industries Power Company and Gujarat State Electricity Corporation.
The developers have a mandate to install 50% of their assigned capacity by 2023 and finalise the project by 2025. Electric power transmission for the project will be overseen by the Power Grid Corporation of India.
This project, in the middle of an inhospitable wasteland, is a glaring reflection of India as a responsible power. As the world’s most populous country, India is taking the lead by prioritising measures to reduce global warming emissions.
India’s endeavour showcases a holistic strategy towards manufacturing renewable energy, giving equal importance to both solar and wind energy components. This initiative not only highlights India’s proactive leadership in the International Solar Alliance, which has 120 member states and is the only intergovernmental organisation headquartered in the country, but also contributes significantly to the worldwide transition to renewable energy sources.
The Khavda renewable energy park stands as a crucial milestone in the global shift towards sustainable sources, aligning with the discussions and objectives outlined at the COP28 climate summit.
Projections indicate that the park will create a workforce of 1 lakh jobs and draw an investment totalling Rs 150,000 crore or $19 billion. Additionally, it is anticipated to result in a yearly reduction of 5 crore tonnes of carbon emissions. Furthermore, the government is considering the implementation of a 14 GWh grid-scale battery by storage system.
Blunting the West’s Pressure on India
India has long opposed the single-focused call to out-phase coal as it is still dependent on it for 80% of its power generation. At the ongoing COP28 in Dubai, India has called for “equity and justice” defending its position, which is rightly stated in favour of Global South nations who bear the brunt, even as historically, it was the developed world led by the West that exploited fossil fuels for far longer than the rest to propel their economies to where they are now. It is unfair to demand of Global South nations to jettison coal at the drop of a hat and India has made its stand clear.
Criticism of the country is blunted, however, when one sees its burgeoning renewable energy capacity, which is what the grand 30GW hybrid clean energy project is poised to do.
Prolific Boost for Make in India
This ambitious hybrid renewable energy project comes with a prolific boost for Make in India, especially in the renewable energy sector.
Approximately 200 km distant in the industrial city of Mundra, situated along the coastline of Gujarat state, the Adani Group is producing the necessary components for the solar and wind energy project. This location stands out as one of the rare places in India where the majority of solar energy parts are fabricated from the ground up. According to an Associated Press report, several of the factories operate akin to laboratories, enforcing the use of protective gear, face masks, and head covers to prevent the infiltration of dust particles that could potentially impact solar cells.
The project will also be a solid endorsement of India-made solar modules, wind turbines and other parts central to the renewable energy economy.
According to Wood Mackenzie, India is poised to become the second-largest solar module producer by 2025, challenging China’s 80% global share. Notably, India’s solar manufacturing surge is largely aimed at meeting the US demand, accounting for 93% of its solar PV exports. Meanwhile, India has reduced solar module imports from China by almost 80%, amounting to $2 billion in the first half of 2023, as reported by think tank Ember.
In recent years, the Indian government has implemented a series of measures not only to enhance the proportion of solar power in the country’s energy mix but also to significantly elevate India’s presence in global solar manufacturing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s objective is to effectively harmonise India’s commitment towards achieving climate goals with economic growth.
The Modi government has implemented a noteworthy move through a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, giving a boost to India’s solar manufacturing sector. With an allocation of Rs 25,000 crore, the PLI scheme aims to establish a framework for producing high-efficiency solar PV modules in India, reducing the country’s dependence on imports.
Among other initiatives, the imposition of a 40% basic customs duty on solar modules and 25% on solar cells by the Centre stands out as a particularly impactful move for the sector. Additionally, other structural initiatives are playing a vital role, contributing to India’s overarching goal of establishing dominance in the solar energy sector, following the attainment of self-sufficiency.
A vast eye-catching project such as the one in Khavda, bearing testament to India’s economic prowess and its advanced approach to building state-of-the-art infrastructure to harness clean energy, paving the way for nations worldwide to follow suit — it is developments like these that establish India’s clear-cut resolve to lead the world by example.
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