Timely execution of Nokh Solar Park in Jaisalmer is important: RRECL

Exercise for the development of the Nokh Solar Park has started for its timely completion. Land allocation is in the last phase. The energy generation is expected to start in 2 years.

The state government is all geared up for the time-bound execution of the Nokh Solar Park in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. This is the second-largest solar park in the state with a production of 925MW, after Bhadla Solar Park of Jodhpur, which has a capacity of 2250 MW.

Though the work on the Nokh Solar Park has been abruptly stalled due to the Corona pandemic that has pushed the country into lockdown. However, as per the latest updates, the Government plans to reach the project’s completion target by March 2022, despite the pandemic risks.

According to Subodh Agarwal, RRECL President and Chief Executive Officer, timely execution of the project is of utmost importance. On one hand, it will help RRECL meet the set targets of 24 GW by large projects. On the other hand, it will also help NTPC take benefits of the fast pace capacity additions happening across the country.

Also, the timely execution of the project is important in order to avail the central financial assistance that has been extended to the solar park.

Nokh Solar Park

Last year, an agreement was signed between two major public sector undertakings – the NTPC and the Rajasthan Development Company Ltd (RSDCL) a subsidiary of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd (RRECL) for the Nokh Solar Park.

Under the agreement, RSDCL will build infrastructure in the solar park while the solar projects are to be built by NTPC.

The land procurement exercise is in the last stage by RRECL, that has got 1850 hectare land for the development of Solar Park at Nokh, Jaisalmer. For this, there was a struggle for the last two years. Earlier the capacity of this park was 975 MW, but due to getting some lesser land, now it has been curtailed to 925 MW.

The solar park is expected to see an investment of around 3,300 crores. Once completed, the Nokh Solar Park will prove to be another milestone to top in the arena of green energy, for the state of Rajasthan.

Rajasthan Solar Initiatives

Solar parks will play an important role in the achievement of the Centre’s and the state’s ambitious goals. There are two other solar parks in the state that are being built in addition to Nokh Solar Park. For the development of these two solar parks of 1500 MW and 750 MW power, the Rajasthan government has inked joint ventures with Adani and Essel Infra, respectively.

Furthermore, two ultra-mega renewable power parks with a combined capacity of 5,000 MW are to be built in the state. This proposal was accepted by the Ministry of New and Sustainable Environment and will probably be signed soon by the State government.

Till last year, 4996 MW solar power plants were installed in the state of Rajasthan. But according to the new solar energy policy, a solar plant of 30,000 MW capacity is proposed to be set up in the state over the next 5 years.