Where Is Solar Energy Mostly Found In India?

Solar energy is the radiant light and heat from the sun that is harnessed using a range of ever-evolving technologies such as photovoltaic panels, concentrated solar power, and passive solar building design. As a renewable energy source, solar provides a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and supports energy security and access in India.

The Government of India has set an ambitious target to reach 500 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030, with solar expected to contribute significantly. This has spurred rapid growth in solar power generation across the country.

The states with the highest solar energy potential in India based on solar radiation levels are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Karnataka. This article will provide an overview of the development of solar energy in these leading states.

Rajasthan

Rajasthan has the highest installed solar capacity in India at over 7,500 MW as of December 2020. According to Wikipedia [1], areas in the Thar Desert like Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Jaisalmer receive optimal solar irradiation and are ideal locations for large-scale solar parks. For example, the Bhadla Solar Park located in Jodhpur district is one of the largest solar parks in India with a capacity of 2,245 MW.

The Bhadla solar park spans 5,783 hectares near Bhadla village and is situated about 220 km from Jodhpur as described on NSEnergyBusiness.com [2]. With Rajasthan’s vast desert area and abundant sunlight, the state government has heavily promoted solar power development in recent years.

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is the state with the second highest installed solar capacity in India behind Rajasthan, with over 5,000 MW. It is home to India’s largest solar park located in Rewa district, called the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar project. This solar park has a capacity of 1,500 MW and spans an area of 1,590 acres. The project was developed by the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL), a joint venture company of the Solar Energy Corporation of India and the Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited.

The Rewa solar park started operations in 2017 and provides power to the Delhi Metro as well as the Madhya Pradesh state distribution companies. Spread across three sites, it uses domestically manufactured solar panels and state-of-the-art technology in solar project implementation. The Rewa solar park was developed with investments from the Central Government and the state government. It is an example of efficient implementation of large-scale solar projects in India[1].

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is a key state for solar energy in India due to its high energy demand. The state has several large solar parks, including:

The Sakri solar plant in the Dhule district has a capacity of 125 MW. It was developed by Mahagenco at a cost of around ₹20 billion. The project became fully operational in 2017.[1]

The 250 MW Dondaicha Solar Park is located in the Dondaicha village of Dhule district. It is expected to generate over 390 million units of electricity per year.

The Majalgaon solar plant in Beed district has a capacity of 240 MW. It is spread over 1,000 acres of land and was developed by Rays Power Infra.

With large solar parks across the state, Maharashtra is poised to increase its solar energy generation substantially in the coming years.

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a major solar power hub in India, with the state government aggressively promoting solar energy projects. Andhra Pradesh is home to India’s second largest solar park which is located in Kurnool district. The Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park has an installed capacity of 1000 MW and was built at an investment of over Rs 9000 crores. Apart from Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh also has large solar parks coming up in Ananthapuramu and Kadapa districts. The state government aims to add 5000 MW of solar power capacity by 2022 through these solar parks. With ample barren land and high solar insolation, Andhra Pradesh has become an attractive investment destination for solar project developers. The solar power potential coupled with favorable policies has transformed the state into a leading solar energy producer in India.

Telangana

Telangana has emerged as one of the leading states for solar energy in India thanks to its high solar insolation and large barren lands in the districts surrounding Hyderabad. The state has set up multiple solar parks to tap into its solar potential, with several located near Hyderabad such as at Zaheerabad and Mehboobnagar.

The state government has been actively promoting solar energy development in Telangana. It aims to install 5,000 MW of solar power capacity by 2019. The state has signed memos with solar developers like SoftBank, First Solar, Azure Power and Adani for setting up projects. Some major solar parks in Telangana include the Zaheerabad Solar Park spread over 13,000 acres and the 1000 MW Mehboobnagar Solar Park.

Telangana’s high solar irradiation and large tracts of unused land make it an ideal location for utility-scale solar projects. The state government has provided further incentives like land banks, transmission infrastructure and fast track clearance mechanisms that have attracted major investments in solar energy. With its proactive policies and solar resources, Telangana is poised to continue being a national leader in solar energy generation.

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is another major solar power hub in India. It is home to India’s largest solar park located in Kamuthi, which has an installed capacity of 648 MW. The solar park spans across 10 km and is comprised of 2.5 million solar modules. Other key solar parks in Tamil Nadu are situated in Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli districts. The state government aims to generate 3,000 MW of solar power by 2023 under the Solar Energy Policy 2019. With abundant solar resources and supporting policies, Tamil Nadu is poised to continue expanding its solar capacity.

Gujarat

Gujarat has emerged as one of the leading states for solar power generation in India thanks to its high solar insolation and vast tracts of vacant land ideal for building large solar parks. The sunniest parts of the state are located in the northwest region of Kutch and the districts of Banaskantha and Patan.

The Gujarat Solar Park at Charanka in the Patan district is currently one of the largest solar parks in Asia. Developed by Gujarat Power Corporation Limited, it has an installed capacity of 700 MW generated from various solar photovoltaic and CSP technologies. Some of the major developers operating solar projects here include Azure Power, Adani Power, and the Tata Group.

In the Banaskantha district, the Banaskantha Solar Park hosts over 1 gigawatt of installed solar capacity with large-scale projects developed by players like Softbank Energy, GIPCL Solar Power, and Renew Sun Waves. The park’s unique terrain and high solar irradiation allow it to achieve superior plant load factors.

With the longest days and maximum sunlight available, the Kutch region also offers tremendous potential for solar power generation. The Gujarat government plans to develop an ultra mega solar park in the Kutch district spanning 5,000 hectares with an estimated capacity of 2,500 – 5,000 MW.

Karnataka

Karnataka is another state with tremendous potential for solar power generation due to its abundant sunlight and large tracts of barren land. The state is home to several large solar parks located near major cities like Bangalore and Tumkur.

The Pavagada Solar Park in Tumkur district is one of the largest solar parks in India with a capacity of 2,050 MW. Spread over 13,000 acres, this massive solar park has been developed in phases by the Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation.

Other major solar parks in Karnataka include the Shivamogga Solar Park (400 MW) and Gulbarga Solar Park (200 MW). The state also houses solar parks in Chitradurga district like the Veerabhadra Solar Park (150 MW) and the Pavagada Solar Park Extension (600 MW) which is currently under construction.

In addition to large-scale solar parks, Karnataka also has a number of rooftop solar installations, especially in the Bengaluru area. The Bangalore International Airport has a 12 MW rooftop solar installation, one of the largest in India. With the state government aiming to increase renewable energy capacity to 20% of total generation, solar power is poised to continue expanding across Karnataka.

Conclusion

In summarizing India’s key solar energy states, the top locations are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka. These states have optimal conditions for solar power generation, with high solar irradiance and large expanses of flat, arid land. Rajasthan leads the country, with over 12 GW of installed solar capacity as of 2022.

India has tremendous growth potential to further develop its solar energy capabilities. Renewable energy is a strategic priority for India to meet rising power demands, ensure energy security and access, and fulfill climate change commitments. Key growth opportunities include favorable government policies, declining solar technology costs, and increased private sector investments. However, challenges remain around grid integration, infrastructure constraints, financing costs and land availability issues.

With abundant sunlight, large swathes of unused land and strong policy support, India is poised to be at the forefront of solar energy expansion globally. If India can effectively leverage its natural and strategic advantages, it has the potential to far exceed its 2030 target of 500 GW of renewable energy and cement its position as a leader in clean energy transition.