Context: Recently, the NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd has received the go-ahead from Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to set up India’s largest solar park.

• This will be India’s largest solar park be India’s largest solar park to be built by the largest power producer of the country.
• NTPC REL, the subsidiary was incorporated in 2020 to accelerate the Renewable Energy business of NTPC.

About India’s Single Largest Solar Park

• It is a 4750 MW renewable energy park located at Rann of Kutch in Khavada, Gujarat.
• It will be India’s largest solar park to be built by the largest power producer of the country.
• It will be almost twice the capacity of the Bhadla solar park in Rajasthan, currently the largest single-location solar power project in the country.

Key Points

• NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL) has been given the go-ahead under Mode 8 (Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park) of Solar Park Scheme.
• NTPC REL has plans to generate green hydrogen on a commercial scale from this park.
• As a part of its green energy portfolio augmentation, NTPC Ltd aims to build 60 GW Renewable Energy Capacity by 2032.
• Currently, NTPC Ltd has an installed capacity of 66 GW across 70 power projects with an additional 18 GW under construction.
• Recently, NTPC has also commissioned India’s largest Floating Solar of 10 MW (ac) on the reservoir of Simhadri Thermal Power Plant, Andhra Pradesh.
• An additional 15 MW (ac) would be commissioned by August 2021.
• Further, a 100 MW Floating Solar Project on the reservoir of Ramagundam Thermal Power Plant, Telangana is in the advanced stage of implementation.
• Additionally, NTPC RE Ltd. has recently signed an MoU with UT, Ladakh and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) for the generation of green hydrogen and deployment on FCEV buses.
• The signing of the MoU was also marked with the inauguration of NTPC’s first solar installations in Leh in form of solar trees and a solar car port.

About Solar Park Scheme

• The scheme for “Development of Solar Parks and Ultra-Mega Solar Power Projects” was rolled out in December, 2014.
• Under the scheme, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy provides Central Financial Assistance to private project developers.
• It offers suitable developed land with all clearances, transmission system, water access, road connectivity, communication network, etc.
• It facilitates and speeds up installation of grid connected solar power projects for electricity generation on a large scale.
• All the States and Union Territories are eligible for getting benefit under the scheme.
• The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) is the designated authority for solar power park development.

By: Shubham Tiwari