Embarking on a determined journey towards sustainable energy, India is in the process of building the world’s largest renewable energy project. Emerging from the desolate expanse of the Rann of Kutch, an expansive salt desert along the border with Pakistan, this monumental endeavor is a significant step in advancing India’s commitment to transition towards renewable energy sources. The upcoming solar and wind project, which could be visible from space when it is finished in three years, will generate a staggering 30 gigawatts (GW) of power — enough to power 18 million Indian homes.
The Khavda renewable energy park was approved by the central government earlier this year and is being built by Indias national power utility NTPC Limited. It is one of a dozen large projects that NTPC hopes to build in the countrys western and southern states, including Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Jammu and Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh.
This massive undertaking will be used to power homes, factories, and other industries that consume large amounts of electricity. It will also be used to produce green hydrogen, a carbon-free fuel that can replace fossil fuels for use in transportation and shipping. According to the Indian budget, the government has set aside 197 billion rupees ($2.4 billion) for this program, which includes incentives for private-sector companies to develop batteries and other technologies that can store energy. It will also subsidise the development of green hydrogen electrolysers, machines that turn water into hydrogen and oxygen, which can then be turned back into electricity.
Indias move to expand its green energy infrastructure is a significant milestone in the global fight against climate change. While fossil fuels such as coal, oiloil and natural gas still supply more than 70% of Indias electricity, the country has made impressive gains in reducing its dependence on these polluting fuels and is seen as a model for other developing countries to follow suit.
However, it is not without challenges. In a sign of how difficult it is to completely phase out fossil fuels, the nation has struggled to meet its renewable energy targets. The majority of Indias 28 states have yet to reach their goals and some, such as West Bengal, are heavily reliant on coal.
Despite these struggles, India has continued to push forward on its renewable energy plans and is taking big steps to further expand its clean energy capacity. The Adani project is expected to contribute significantly to Indias overall green energy capacities and aligns with the nation’s ambitious climate action pledges made at COP26. These five key pledges included reaching 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, achieving 50% of its energy needs from renewables, lowering its net projected carbon emissions to zero by 2070, and more.
At the moment, Indias renewable energy capacity totals only 78 GW. This new project, which will help it reach its 2030 goal of 500 GW, will be an important step in enabling the country to achieve its vision of being fully carbon-neutral by 2070.
