Nearly 70% of Rajasthan's power capacity comes from renewable energy: Pralhad Joshi
Pralhad Joshi
.
The state is now a beacon of hope, energy independence, and self-reliance, said the minister while inaugurating the 435 megawatt
Gorbea Solar Power Project
, developed by Zelestra India, in Rajasthan.
He described the Gorbea project as a shining example of what is possible through visionary leadership and honest intent. "With every megawatt we generate, we are not just producing power, we are building a New India," he remarked, adding that the project reflects the speed and scale of change.
The Gorbea Solar Power Project, delivered in under eight months, spans 1,250 acres and is backed by a 25 year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Solar Energy Corporation of India.
It will generate 755 gigawatt hours of clean electricity annually, powering approximately 1.28 lakh homes and reducing nearly 7.05 lakh tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
The minister highlighted that the project has turned farmers into partners in India's energy journey, as the land used has been leased from them, offering stable income. "Our farmers are no longer just food providers. They are now energy providers as well," he said.
During construction, over 700 local workers were employed, contributing to livelihood generation and skill development. Joshi also noted that the entire evacuation infrastructure, including the on-site substation and a 6.5 kilometre transmission line, was completed in just five months.
The project uses advanced solar panels (TOPCon bifacial mono PERC modules) and over 1300 robotic cleaning units to maintain peak performance. Joshi called this a world-class facility and urged broader adoption of such technologies.
Referring to his visit to IIT Bombay, the Minister spoke about ongoing work on Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells and encouraged Zelestra and Rajasthan officials to explore pilot projects using this next-generation solar technology. He said such innovations could significantly boost energy yields in high-irradiance states like Rajasthan.
Under the
PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana
, over 49,000 rooftop installations have been completed in Rajasthan, with more than Rs 325 crore in subsidies disbursed. He urged faster implementation, given the 2.7 lakh applications already received. Under PM-KUSUM, nearly 1.45 lakh solar pumps have been installed.
The minister said that India has already achieved its target of 50 percent installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, five years ahead of the 2030 deadline.
-IANS
na/
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
India-UK free trade deal approved: which luxury and labor-heavy industries will cash in big?
India's Union Cabinet finally approved the country's free trade agreement with the United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 22. This agreement, formally called the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, will be formally signed by India's Commerce and Industry minister Piyush Goyal, along with Britain's counterpart Jonathan Reynolds on July 24. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will be there to witness the proceedings. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement aims to smoothen out trade hurdles between India and the United Kingdom by imposing a zero-duty regime on Indian exports such as textiles, leather goods and footwear. The United Kingdom will also face reduced tariffs on luxury exports such as Scotch whiskey and premium cars. The India-UK free trade agreement benefits India's labor-intensive industries The free trade agreement that was just approved by India's Union Cabinet is focused on bolstering India's most labor-intensive industries. Textiles, leather goods and footwear continue to have high production costs due to the labor-intensive process required to ensure product quality. If the United Kingdom imposes zero import duties on these industries, a whole new market will open up. #WATCH | London, UK | Speaking on the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) at the India Global Forum, Union Minister Piyush Goyal says, "It is unfair to call it a giveaway. Indian people add value to the UK economy when they come here...""This is not something we raised after… This trade agreement is part of a wider effort by Narendra Modi's government to maximize export opportunities for Indian industries, as well as attract foreign investment. As Indian exports become more profitable and sough-after, Indian enterprises may garner additional funding and investment from foreign parties. Likewise, the reduced tariffs on the UK's luxury goods ensure that the markets of that country open up to a new customer base of wealthy Indians. From 2024 to 2025, the value of India's exports to the United Kingdom has risen by 12.6% to $14.5 billion. The value of imports India received from the UK grew by 2.3% to $8.6 billion. The India-UK agreement is yet to be ratified by the UK parliament While India's cabinet has approved of the bilateral free trade agreement, the United Kingdom has its own process of ratification, which will occur after the signing ceremony on July 24. Due to the Labor party's majority in the parliament, this process seems unlikely to face any hiccups. India, UK concludes FTA; An elated UK PM releases video of his telephonic talks with PM Modi. Calls FTA historic Aside from the trade agreement on goods and services, India and the United Kingdom have also inked out an agreement on Social Security, known as the Double Contribution Convention. This will allow Indians who have short-term work contracts in the United Kingdom to avoid double contributions to their social security funds, ensuring they keep more of their earnings. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement has been a long time in the making, with negotiations on the pact concluding on May 6. This agreement is projected to double the value of bilateral trade between the two nations to $120 billion by 2030.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Centre owes state 464cr under rural employment scheme
Chennai: Union govt owes TN 464crore in dues under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Centre told Parliament. This comes as fund allocation and job generation saw a sharp decline over the years. Response to more than seven starred questions from MPs across states, including TN MPs Thamizhachi Thangapandian, TM Selvaganapathi, and Thangathamilselvan, came from ministers in Union rural development ministry. Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said dues comprising wage and material costs were pending due to procedural requirements, fund utilisation pace, and existing liabilities. Centre, having issued new standard operating procedures, is pushing for Aadhaar-linked DBT payments, and is conducting regular reviews to clear backlogs, he added. The statement also revealed that TN's allocation under MGNREGS dropped from 9,743crore in 2022-23 to 7,585crore in 2024-25. The number of person-days generated fell from 3,346 lakh to 3,061 lakh, indicating fewer work opportunities for rural households. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Under the scheme, 100% of wage and administration expenditure is borne by Union govt, whereas it bears 75% of material expenditure and 25% is shared by the state. Union govt said about 2,884crore of wage dues to TN was released in April this year, and another 50% of material component dues of 858crore in March. Allocations under the Centre's housing scheme will be based on previous usage, pending houses, and current targets. To a query on rural roads, the ministry said 7,375 km of roads were relaid in TN and more have been sanctioned.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Govt to make 5-year policy to promote CNG, piped gas
Jaipur: The state govt will prepare a five-year action plan for infrastructure development and facility expansion to promote domestic piped natural gas (DPNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG). Principal secretary (mines and petroleum) T Ravikanth said Tuesday that as per the budgetary announcement, a target has been set to provide DPNG connections to 1.25 lakh homes and start 89 new CNG stations this year. While preparing the action plan for the next five years, the targets set by the Union petroleum and natural gas ministry will also have to be kept in mind, he said. In a meeting with representatives of 13 CGD (city gas distribution) service providers, he urged them to take measures to ensure compliance with safety standards, especially of vehicles used in transportation of CNG-PNG. State govt has already introduced a CGD policy to promote green energy and ecosysytem.
