Top 10 Local & Nationwide Solar Power Projects
A worldwide energy transformation is happening right now. To reduce their reliance on unreliable and highly unsustainable traditional power sources like coal, oil, and natural gas, countries are racing towards Green Energy Solutions by increasing their capacity for producing renewable energy.
In reality, 118 nations committed to tripling the capacity of renewable energy sources by 2030 at the most recent COP28 conference.
With more than 430 gigawatts of installed solar capacity, China is the global leader in solar energy generation. To meet their energy needs, several countries are developing massive power plants and have set high goals for solar energy.
1. India’s Bhadla Solar Park
Place: India’s Rajasthan
2245 MW of installed capacity
The world’s largest solar farm is located at Bhadla Solar Park. The complex, which occupies 14,000 acres, is situated in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district.
With a 2.25 GW capacity, the solar farm required an estimated expenditure of more than $1.35 billion.
With more than 10 million solar panels, the enormous solar project was put into service in 2017. In accordance with the Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy of 2011, it was created in four stages under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) plan.
The plant generates clean, renewable energy by utilizing the dry heat of Rajasthan, an Indian desert state.
2. Huanghe Hydropower, China’s Hainan Solar Park
Location: China’s Qinghai Province
2200 MW of installed capacity
China’s isolated Qinghai province is home to the Huanghe Hydropower Hainan Solar Park. With 2.2 GW of installed solar capacity, it is the biggest solar project in the nation. With a 202.8-megawatt storage capacity, the enormous plant is impressive.
The factory, which took five years to develop and covers 564 acres, started operations in 2020.
There are proposals to increase the park’s solar capacity to 10 GW.
3. Pavagada Solar Park in India, 2,050 Megawatts
Pavagada Solar Park has a total capacity of 2,050 megawatts, making it the second-biggest solar power facility in India and the third-largest in the world. In the Indian state of Karnataka, the solar power plant occupies an area of 20.3 square miles. As part of a significant developmental push for renewable energy, the Karnataka State Renewable Energy Department and the Solar Energy Corporation of India collaborated on constructing the solar park.
4. Egypt’s Benban Solar Park
1650 MW of solar capacity
The largest solar project in Africa is Benban Solar Park, situated in Benban Village in the Aswan Governorate of Egypt. With 41 solar power plants, the enormous complex can produce 1.6 GW of solar energy.
The project was developed under the state-owned New and Renewable Authority (NREA) direction and complies with the Egyptian Government’s Sustainable Energy Strategy 2035.
In 2019, the 9000-acre project was linked to Egypt’s National Grid, providing electricity to more than 4,20,000 households.
5. China’s Tengger Desert Solar Park
Location: China’s Ningxia
1547 MW of installed capacity
The world’s fifth-largest solar power plant lies in the Chinese province of Ningxia. With a 1547 MW capacity, the facility spans 1200 km of the Tengger desert.
Zhongwei Power Supply Company and China National Grid jointly own the solar farm, also known as the Great Wall of Solar. After becoming online in 2017, it supplies energy to over 6,000,000 households.
Governments worldwide pour enormous sums of money into building more extensive facilities and enlarging their current solar parks to achieve their energy targets. And they are all competing to have the most solar energy capacity.
6. First On-grid solar project with a cutting-edge Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
Location: Lakshwadeep, India
1.7 MW of installed capacity
SunSource Energy, a renewable energy company in India, played a crucial role in establishing Lakshadweep’s historic on-grid solar project, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), with EPC provided by SunSource Energy, developed an initiative that covered the Kavaratti and Agatti islands. With a combined solar capacity of 1.7 MW and a cutting-edge 1.4 MWh battery storage facility, this transformative project signifies a shift from diesel-based power to sustainable energy for the region. SunSource Energy’s expertise contributed to the success of this groundbreaking project, aligning with India’s green energy objectives and promoting sustainability in island regions.
7. Ultra Mega Solar Park in Kurnool
With a 1,000 MW capacity, Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park is a solar park located in Panyam mandal in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, covering an area of 5,932.32 acres.
Solar power developers and the Central and State governments invested approximately ₹7,000 crores (US$980 million) in the park’s construction.
Owned by Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited (APSPCL), it was put into service on March 29, 2017.
8. RMG Vinyl Project by SunSource
• 4 MWp of project capacity (a portion of a 45 MW project)
To serve its international clientele, RMG Polyvinyl, a well-known flooring and product company in India, sought to lower its energy costs and switch to green energy. Because of SunSource Energy’s long history and depth of knowledge in the Indian industry, RMG Polyvinyl selected them as its energy transition partner.
Rewa Ultra Mega Solar is the nation’s first solar project to surpass grid parity. It is Asia’s largest single-site solar project and is among India’s most significant solar power facilities.
The project’s implementing agency, Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL), is a joint venture between the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikash Nigam Limited (MPUVNL).
Rewa is India’s first project supplying electricity to Delhi Metro, an interstate open-access customer. This is the first project in India to employ solar energy for railway traction.
The project’s transaction structure earned the President’s Award for Excellence from the World Bank Group.
10. Ultra Mega Solar Park at Kadapa
The 5,927.76-acre Kadapa Ultra Mega Solar Park is in the Mylavaram mandal of the Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation, the New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd., the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), and Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited (APSPCL) are collaborating to carry out the project.
The global shift towards renewable energy is evident through remarkable solar power projects worldwide. From India’s Bhadla Solar Park, the world’s largest solar farm, to China’s Tengger Desert Solar Park, governments and companies are investing significantly to enhance their solar energy capacities.
The impressive initiatives, such as Lakshadweep’s on-grid solar project and India’s Rewa Ultra Mega Solar, showcase technological advancements and contribute to sustainable energy goals. With the increasing focus on solar energy, these projects underscore a collective commitment towards a greener and more sustainable future.
