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Business Standard
7 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Timeline: How Rajasthan became India's top solar hub in just a decade
A decade ago, Rajasthan's vast desert stretches, scorching in the day and freezing at night, were seen as empty, unforgiving land, hostile to most forms of development. Today, those same empty plains sparkle with millions of solar panels, making the Thar one of the most powerful clean energy engines in the world. From the dusty villages of Jodhpur to the futuristic sprawl of Bhadla, the state has dramatically transformed–no one could have seen that coming. With great policy support, billions in investment, and overwhelming geography, Rajasthan has vastly climbed to the top of India's renewable energy map. What once was a story of survival in the desert has become one of scale, ambition, and leadership in the race to a low-carbon future. Here is how the journey unfolded. The journey of solar power production over a decade The foundation for Rajasthan's solar success was laid in December 2014, when the Centre launched the Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects Scheme. Rajasthan was among the earliest states to sign up, with Bhadla identified as the flagship site for large-scale development. Just a few years later, in 2017, the Bhadla Solar Park in Jodhpur district began to take shape, attracting major developers such as ACME, Adani, and Hero Future Energies through Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) auctions. The same year proved decisive for India's tariff story as well. In May 2017, Bhadla's competitive auctions discovered a record-low solar tariff of ₹ 2.44 per unit, a benchmark that redefined expectations for solar pricing nationwide and continued to shape auctions through 2018. By 2020, Rajasthan's installed solar capacity had grown to about 5.1 GW, a figure that positioned it for the surge to follow. That surge came between 2021 and 2022, when Rajasthan added capacity on an unprecedented scale. In 2022 alone, the state brought online 6.7 GW of new solar and wind power, about 43 per cent of all renewable capacity added in India that year. By June 2022, Rajasthan's large-scale solar had already reached close to 13 GW, thanks largely to central auctions conducted by SECI. The growth story soon began drawing global capital. In 2023, funds such as Brookfield poured money, financing projects in Rajasthan through a ₹3,380-crore pool. Masdar, the Abu Dhabi-based developer, tied up with Hero Future Energies on a 2.2 GW India platform, with 1.5 GW of that capacity linked to projects in Rajasthan and Haryana. Indian companies like ReNew were also continuing to create their presence across the solar clusters in the state. By early 2024, Rajasthan is estimated to be above 20 GW, even tracker companies placing its operational solar base above 21 GW, and this is a lead which none of the other states can match. This trend continued till mid-2025, and official MNRE data demonstrated that Rajasthan had achieved 32.32 GW of solar capacity by July 31. Not only does this establish Rajasthan as India's undisputed leader in renewables, but it also calls itself home to the world's largest solar park in Bhadla at 2,245 MW installed capacity. Why Rajasthan leads in solar power production Rajasthan's dominance in solar energy is rooted in its geography, policy, and scale. The state enjoys consistently high solar irradiation of around 5.5-6.5 kWh/m²/day, coupled with vast stretches of arid land across its western districts that are ideally suited for gigawatt-scale solar parks. The early decision to participate in the Centre's Solar Park Scheme gave Rajasthan a head start, while a clear state framework for aggregating land and setting up park-specific special purpose vehicles reduced developer risk and shortened project timelines. Scale has also been central to Rajasthan's rise. The Bhadla Solar Park, spread across about 56 square kilometers and was developed in multiple phases starting from 2015, became the world's largest single solar park with an installed capacity of 2,245 MW and a showcase of pooled land, ready infrastructure such as roads and pooling stations, and competitive auctions that pushed tariffs to record lows of under ₹2.50 per kWh. Alongside this, investments in transmission under the Green Energy Corridor ensured that power could be evacuated both within and outside the state. Phase II of the corridor, approved in January 2022, is on track for commissioning by March 2026, promising even greater grid flexibility. What's next for renewable energy in Rajasthan Rajasthan's clean energy journey is expanding beyond solar parks and is being taken one step further. The Centre's National Green Hydrogen Mission has already named the state one of two (the other being Ladakh) leading candidates for large-scale hydrogen production in the country. The rationale is simple and logical - Rajasthan has available land and substantial solar potential, making it a suitable area for electrolyser-based projects, resulting in competitively priced green hydrogen. Additionally, the next wave of hybrid projects that integrate solar, wind, and storage technologies is being accommodated with additional transmission corridors under Green Energy Corridor-II. With over 32 GW of solar installed already, the state should comfortably remain India's top state for solar throughout this decade, which is key for the 500 GW renewable energy commitment by 2030, with hybrid parks and larger storage projects leading the next wave of growth.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
From Wimbledon to F1: Surprises for staff bringing their A-game
Synopsis Companies are increasingly rewarding top performers with all-expense-paid experiential trips, moving beyond traditional gifts. Hero Future Energies sent employees to Wimbledon, while others offer luxury travel to global sporting events. Travel operators report a surge in demand for these incentive tours, with sports proving a powerful motivator across various industries. Companies offer luxury trips to top empolyees Corporate rewards and recognition (R&R) programmes are no longer about gift vouchers, gold coins, or a pat on the back. From Wimbledon to Formula 1 and even cricket on ice in Switzerland, companies are increasingly sending top performers on all-expense-paid experiential trips. Hero Future Energies, for instance, recently sponsored the winners of its 'Chairman's Challenge' to watch the Wimbledon Tennis Championship, while firms like Mankind Pharma and Sterlite Group are offering key employees luxury trips to international destinations and global sporting events. Travel operators like Thomas Cook and SOTC say demand for such experiential R&R tours to both domestic and international locations has surged in recent months. 'Sports is proving to be a powerful driver for the incentive-reward programmes,' said Rajeev Kale, president and country head – holidays, MICE, visa, at Thomas Cook (India).This July, Hero Future Energies (HFE), Hero Group's renewable energy arm, sent eight employees to London to watch Wimbledon for their 'outstanding performance' in the areas of AI, process automation and digitisation. 'This was a fully sponsored trip covering travel, accommodation, registration, and related expenses,' Bhawna Kirpal Mital, chief HR officer of HFE, told ET. Companies across industries from pharmaceuticals and information technology (IT) to services sectors and banking, financial service and insurance (BFSI) are increasingly sending employees on domestic and international trips, according to travel companies.'What started as a domestic outing, and then exotic international destinations, has now evolved to truly experiential events,' said SD Nandakumar, president and country head – holidays and corporate tours, at SOTC Travel. Corporates are sponsoring fully paid luxury tours to sporting events like F1 races (Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Bahrain, and Italy's Monza circuits), Grand Slam tennis events such as Wimbledon and the Australian Open, European club football, and cricket, Nandakumar said. Amid rising corporate demand, Thomas Cook is organising sports-led experiential trips, such as a buy-out of Auckland's Eden Park for a private corporate cricket match, complete with Indian chefs at live cooking counters, professional commentators, and VIP interactions with celebrity players. The company grabbed 'uber premium grandstand seating' at the British Silverstone F1 Grand Prix, and held private rugby matches in New Zealand, ice-hockey showdowns in Prague, and a cricket match on ice in Switzerland. 'It's no longer just about travel; it's about creating transformative journeys that inspire, connect, and celebrate top performers,' Kale said. Prateek Dubey, global CHRO at Mankind Pharma, said international trips and global event participation are among the firm's recognition initiatives for employees this year. 'The destinations are curated to offer unforgettable and culturally rich experiences — ranging from global cities to iconic events,' he said. These include select international conferences, leadership summits, Mankind's flagship Medal Meet. 'It also includes immersive experiences that combine leisure with learning opportunities,' Dubey said. The design and engineering team at Resonia (part of Sterlite Group) recently presented a paper on its Mumbai Urja Marg project at the CIGRE Norway Symposium 2025, said Ruhie Pande, group CHRO of Sterlite Electric, Resonia and Serentica Renewables. Sterlite Group also sends employees to international conferences for spotting new trends, presenting papers, and attending. Sterlite Group also organises all-expense-paid team off-sites, Pande said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
From Wimbledon to F1: Surprises for staff bringing their A-game
Corporate rewards and recognition (R&R) programmes are no longer about gift vouchers, gold coins, or a pat on the back. From Wimbledon to Formula 1 and even cricket on ice in Switzerland, companies are increasingly sending top performers on all-expense-paid experiential trips. Independence Day 2025 Modi signals new push for tech independence with local chips Before Trump, British used tariffs to kill Indian textile Bank of Azad Hind: When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose gave India its own currency Hero Future Energies, for instance, recently sponsored the winners of its 'Chairman's Challenge' to watch the Wimbledon Tennis Championship, while firms like Mankind Pharma and Sterlite Group are offering key employees luxury trips to international destinations and global sporting events. Travel operators like Thomas Cook and SOTC say demand for such experiential R&R tours to both domestic and international locations has surged in recent months. 'Sports is proving to be a powerful driver for the incentive-reward programmes,' said Rajeev Kale, president and country head – holidays, MICE, visa, at Thomas Cook (India). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Could This NEW Collagen Blend Finally Reduce Your Cellulite? Vitauthority Learn More Undo This July, Hero Future Energies (HFE), Hero Group's renewable energy arm, sent eight employees to London to watch Wimbledon for their 'outstanding performance' in the areas of AI, process automation and digitisation. Live Events 'This was a fully sponsored trip covering travel, accommodation, registration, and related expenses,' Bhawna Kirpal Mital, chief HR officer of HFE, told ET. Companies across industries from pharmaceuticals and information technology (IT) to services sectors and banking, financial service and insurance (BFSI) are increasingly sending employees on domestic and international trips, according to travel companies. Curated experiences 'What started as a domestic outing, and then exotic international destinations, has now evolved to truly experiential events,' said SD Nandakumar, president and country head – holidays and corporate tours, at SOTC Travel. Corporates are sponsoring fully paid luxury tours to sporting events like F1 races (Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Bahrain, and Italy's Monza circuits), Grand Slam tennis events such as Wimbledon and the Australian Open, European club football, and cricket, Nandakumar said. Amid rising corporate demand, Thomas Cook is organising sports-led experiential trips, such as a buy-out of Auckland's Eden Park for a private corporate cricket match, complete with Indian chefs at live cooking counters, professional commentators, and VIP interactions with celebrity players. The company grabbed 'uber premium grandstand seating' at the British Silverstone F1 Grand Prix, and held private rugby matches in New Zealand, ice-hockey showdowns in Prague, and a cricket match on ice in Switzerland. 'It's no longer just about travel; it's about creating transformative journeys that inspire, connect, and celebrate top performers,' Kale said. Prateek Dubey, global CHRO at Mankind Pharma, said international trips and global event participation are among the firm's recognition initiatives for employees this year. 'The destinations are curated to offer unforgettable and culturally rich experiences — ranging from global cities to iconic events,' he said. These include select international conferences, leadership summits, Mankind's flagship Medal Meet. 'It also includes immersive experiences that combine leisure with learning opportunities,' Dubey said. The design and engineering team at Resonia (part of Sterlite Group) recently presented a paper on its Mumbai Urja Marg project at the CIGRE Norway Symposium 2025, said Ruhie Pande, group CHRO of Sterlite Electric, Resonia and Serentica Renewables. Sterlite Group also sends employees to international conferences for spotting new trends, presenting papers, and attending. Sterlite Group also organises all-expense-paid team off-sites, Pande said.
