After RE-Rich States, UP Emerges As The New Solar Park Hub

Study Points Out At India's Key Role In Energy Transition In Asia

Union Minister of State (MoS) for New and Renewable Energy and Power Shripad Yesso Naik recently updated Parliament on the state-wise penetration of solar parks across the country. The data shared by the minister detailed solar park projects developed in 13 states. An analysis of the data revealed that after the high penetration of solar parks in the renewable rich states of India, Uttar Pradesh seems to be next on the line.

The state is now the beneficiary of nine allocated solar parks. In terms of allocated capacity, the state ranks fifth in the state after states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The state is now working on boosting solar parks in the Bundelkhand region and other sites. Uttar Pradesh has a total of nine approval solar parks with a total capacity of 3,840 MW capacity. Till now the state has commissioned 430 MW.

Government data provided by the union minister highlighted the status of solar park projects approved for 13 states. Despite Gujarat having the highest share of approved solar park projects—12,150 MW across seven solar parks—the state has so far installed only 1,000 MW. The parliamentary data also revealed that Rajasthan, with 9,568 MW approved for 10 solar park projects, has to date installed 3,241 MW. Other states like Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh also made it to the list as it has 4,330 MW approved projects for eight solar parks and 4,200 MW for five solar park projects respectively.

Status of solar parks in different states of India. Source: MNRE data as presented before Lok Sabha.

Other states have approved the project, but it hasn’t been commissioned so far and are yet to see the light of the day. These states are, Himachal Pradesh’s 53 MW solar park project, Jharkhand has approved three floating solar projects of a total of 1,089 MW capacity, however, it hasn’t been installed till now.

Karnataka has installed one project of 2,000 MW out of two projects commissioned for the state. Kerela has also seen only one project of 100 MW commissioned in the state out of three projects approved for it. Although relatively small-scaled, but worth noticing, that Mizoram too has commissioned its 20 MW project the sole project commissioned for the state.

However, they have installed 1,650 MW and 3,050 MW capacity solar parks so far. On the other hand,  whereas, Chhattisgarh has approved and installed one solar park project of 100 MW.

The minister stated, “The government is implementing the scheme for the Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects. Under this scheme, a capacity of 39,250 MW has been sanctioned. Solar projects with a cumulative capacity of 11,591 MW have been commissioned in 22 Solar Parks so far.”

The minister said, “The government is implementing the scheme for the Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects. Under the scheme, a capacity of 39,250 MW has been sanctioned. Solar projects of a cumulative capacity of 11,591 MW have been commissioned in 22 Solar Parks so far.”