NLC India, a company under the purview of the Indian Ministry of Coal, has emerged as the winner of a tender to develop an 810MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in the northern state of Rajasthan.
The tender, initially announced by Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Nigam in December 2022, is part of a broader 2GW solar facility planned for Pugal Tehsil in Rajasthan's Bikaner District. NLC India secured the entire 810MW capacity offered in the tender. While the company has not yet disclosed a specific timeframe for the project, it represents a noteworthy addition to NLC India's growing portfolio of clean energy investments.
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NLC India is actively engaged in the development of more than 1.1GW of new solar capacity across four sites in India. Notably, it achieved the distinction of being the first Indian government department to install 1GW of renewable power generation capacity. As part of its ambitious plans, NLC India aims to expand its renewable portfolio to an impressive 6GW by the close of 2030. Initiatives like these play a crucial role in India's pursuit of a cleaner and more sustainable energy mix as it endeavors to decarbonize its power generation.
Recent developments in India's solar sector have showcased a growing emphasis on renewable energy. Gautam Solar, an Indian solar module manufacturer, recently unveiled plans to double its annual module production capacity. Additionally, Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy received approval to construct a new 300MW solar project in the state of Gujarat, located on India's western coast.
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India's energy landscape has traditionally leaned heavily on fossil fuels, with coal, oil, and solid biomass accounting for over 80% of the nation's energy needs, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2021. However, there are indications of a shift, as the Indian coal sector provided 1.1 million GWh of electricity in 2020, slightly lower than the previous year's peak of 1.2 million GWh. This suggests a potential inclination towards reducing coal dependency.
As India sets its sights on achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, the successful development of large-scale solar projects like the one in Pugal Tehsil holds significant promise in advancing the country's renewable energy aspirations.
