Shakti Sthala – The World’s Largest 2000 MW Solar Park Launched in Indian State Karnataka
India has the best opportunity to become the greatest solar power generation nation due to its position in the solar orbit which, best suitable for solar energy. Solar energy is a clean energy source, abundantly available without further deteriorating the present eco-system. The entire world is going to harness the solar power by choice or force.
Now, the World’s largest solar park launched at Pavagada in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district about 180 km from Bengaluru, which was recently launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Images source: OneIndia After Milk revolution of Amul Dairy at Anand, Gujarat, this one seems to be power generation cooperative of the India where farmers are contributing to the revolution.
The 2,000 MW solar park named as ‘Shakti Sthala’, spans across 13,000 acres spread over five villages and at an investment of Rs. 16,500 crore (about 2.3 billion USD).
This is a mega construction project which has now made in India, the home of ultra-mega solar power plants. It’s a benchmark in the unique people’s participation in power model put on the ground.
Earlier, a 648-MW power project set up by the Adani Green Energy, part of the Adani Group, in Tamil Nadu in 2016 was earlier billed as the world’s largest solar plant.
Karnataka, which continues to face power shortage, increased its capacity from 14,030MW in 2012-13 to 23,379MW in January this year, through all sources including hydel, thermal, nuclear and biomass.
Pavagada, being the most drought-prone state, witnessed large-scale migration over the last decade. With the solar park, the government aims to help local farmers and also create a source of unlimited clean energy.
The first phase of the solar park will generate 600MW, while the balance 1,400MW is expected to be commissioned by the end of this year, the government said in a statement.
The project is part of the “Karnataka Solar Policy 2014-2021” which aims to decrease dependence on traditional power sources and move to environmentally friendly ones to meet the growing power needs of the state.
The park ties in with the center’s scheme to generate 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar power by 2020. The land for the solar park has been taken on a 25-year lease by the government from around 2,300 farmers, and in return, they are paid an annual rental of Rs 21,000 per acre, with scope for a 5% increase every two years, as reported by NDTV.
The park’s development was initiated with the creation of the Karnataka Solar Power Development Corp. Ltd (KSPDCL) in March 2015 as a joint venture between Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL) and Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI).
KSPDCL uses the “plug and play” model, under which it acquires and develops the land as blocks for solar power generation, embedded with the required government approvals, and gives it out to solar power developers (SPDs) through auctions.
As a forward-thinking, we can cultivate and utilize something in that area (13000 acres is a huge area) especially if that is a fertile agriculture land. This is possible if the panels are placed at least six to ten feet above the ground level (taking into account stability vs wind force).
It’s really a great model to many states in India. We appreciate farmers as they came forward to lend their land for a good cause. What a fantastic collaboration to create a win-win situation, the world can learn from this!
