Jaipur: In a shift aimed at meeting local energy demand, Rajasthan will receive 500MW of solar power from a 1,000MW project commissioned by CPSU Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) in Bikaner, marking a departure from the earlier trend of most solar power generated in the state being supplied outside.The remaining 500MW capacity was allocated to Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, officials said. The project, developed at an estimated cost of Rs 5,492 crore, offers a competitive tariff of Rs 2.57 per unit, backed by viability gap funding (VGF) of Rs 44 lakh per MW.Energy sector officials said the project reflects a course correction in the renewable energy policy, following years of political criticism that the state was exporting green power despite facing domestic shortages.The political class earlier raised concerns that Rajasthan was bearing the land and infrastructure burden of large solar projects without commensurate benefits for its own consumers.Speaking to TOI, Ajitabh Sharma, additional chief secretary (Energy), said the focus is now on dedicating more renewable capacity to the state.“In the coming times, more solar plants dedicated to Rajasthan are coming up. The power from 2,450MW capacity Pugal Solar Park with battery storage will be used for consumption in the state,” he said, adding that grid and transmission constraints limit how much capacity can be absorbed in the state immediately.During the current financial year, Rajasthan added around 8,000MW of solar capacity, including rooftop, PM-Kusum, and utility-scale industrial projects. Of this, about 3,000MW was utilised for the state’s consumers, highlighting a gradual increase in domestic consumption.According to Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd, the state has an installed renewable capacity of about 42,000MW, of which 18,000MW is dedicated to Rajasthan, meeting nearly 18–20% of the state’s total power consumption. Officials said projects like Bikaner underline Rajasthan’s transition from being merely India’s solar hub to becoming a major consumer of its own clean energy.The Bikaner project, spread over 5,000 acres, is being developed under the CPSU Scheme Phase-II (Tranche-III) and uses bifacial DCR solar modules, making it the largest EPC solar project at a single location in the country. The foundation stone was laid by President Droupadi Murmu on January 3, 2023.The plant, designed in 4 phases with 120 inverter stations and 4 250 MVA transformers, is expected to generate around 2,450 million units annually.
