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Gujarat’s Charanka Park a model for nation’s solar projects

The scheme for ‘Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects’ has been conceived on the lines of the ‘Charanka Solar Park’ in Gujarat, which is the first-of-its-kind large-scale facility in India with contiguous developed land and transmission connectivity.

It was rolled out by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy on December 12, 2014. This scheme envisages supporting states in setting up solar parks.

The solar parks will come up on developed land, having all clearances. The ministry will provide facilities such as transmission system, water access, road connectivity, communication network, etc, to these parks. 

This scheme will expedite installation of grid-connected solar power projects for electricity generation on a large scale. It aims to provide impetus to solar energy generation by acting as a flagship demonstration facility to encourage project developers and investors, prompting additional projects of similar nature, triggering economies of scale for cost-reductions, technical improvements and achieving large scale reductions in GHG emissions. It would enable States to bring in significant investment from project developers, meet its Solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) mandate and provide employment opportunities to local population.

The main objective of this scheme is to reduce carbon footprint by avoiding emissions. Further, the state will also avoid procuring expensive fossil fuels to power conventional power plants. 

It is proposed to set up at least 25 solar parks and ultra mega solar power projects, targeting over 20,000 MW of solar power installed capacity within five years starting 2014-15 under the scheme ‘Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects’. Approvals have been accorded to 33 solar parks of 20,000 MW capacity, which will be set up in 21 states.
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