Coal India Ltd (CIL) announced its plan to set up an 1190 MW solar power plant in Bikaner, Rajasthan. The initiative is part of the PSU’s diversification programme for clean energy.
For the project, CIL signed a Memorandum of Understanding worth ₹5,400 crores with the Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RVUNL) on Thursday, 13th October 2022.
Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi and the state’s Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot were also present at the signing in Jaipur.
The coal minister said that India has sufficient coal reserves for 50 years. Now, steps are being taken to generate clean coal and promote renewable energy generation.
The solar plant by CIL will be installed in a 2000 MW solar park being developed by RVNUL in the Poogal area of Bikaner. Out of the total capacity, 1190 MW capacity will be set up by Coal India, and the remaining 810 MW capacity will be set up by RVUNL itself.
The state government has allotted a land area of 4,846 hectares for the project.
Chief minister Ashok Gehlot states that this solar park will not only ensure an unlimited power supply for the common man but also save coal and reduce pollution. He further suggests that the production and assembly of necessary equipment for the project should be handled within Rajasthan itself to create more employment opportunities at the local level.
“Rajasthan today has become a leading state in the field of renewable energy. With the introduction of new solar and wind energy policy, and simplification of rules by the state, continuous investment is coming in the field of renewable energy”, Gehlot said.
He also adds that this joint venture by CIL and RVUNL is a sign of good coordination between the state government and the centre. Moreover, India’s target of creating 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2029-30 can only be achieved by this type of coordination between the two.
With a total capacity of 14,825 MW, Rajasthan stands at the number 1 spot on the list of the top solar states in the country. Moreover, the state government is constantly striving to boost this capacity by inviting investments in the thriving solar industry of Rajasthan.
At the recently held Invest Rajasthan Summit 2022, two major energy companies- Tata Power and Adani Group also announced major investment plans for the renewable energy sector of the state.
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Resource: The Economic Times
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