Rajasthan Signs Initial Pact for 1-Gigawatt Solar Power Capacity

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources India (Delhi, India)--The state Government of Rajasthan has entered into an agreement with a private-sector solar company to develop 1,000-megawatts (MW) of solar power capacity in the state. Rajasthan's Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Azure Power India Private Limited (Gurgaon, Haryana) to develop the solar power generation capacity.

The state government has recently come up with a new Solar Energy Policy which aims to set up 25,000 MWs of solar power projects through state, private and public-private partnerships.

"We are progressing towards achieving the target of 25,000 MW solar energy generation in the next five years," she said while singing the MoU with Azure Power. The chief minister assured the people of her government's resolve to develop the state on all fronts. She also promised the investors of every possible help from her government.

Raje said the immediate challenge before the state was energy security and climate change and the government is determined to deal with them.

The state has launched a new "Solar Energy Policy-2014" to pave the way for establishment of solar capacity in the state. The main objectives of the policy are to establish solar parks in state sector, private sector and through Public Private Partnership (PPP). It also aims to create conducive environment for the investors in the state and ensure power supply to urban and rural areas.

With Rajasthan receiving maximum solar radiation intensity in the country and the state having abundant desert land, the state has the potential to become a global hub for solar power generation in the country. The new solar policy empowers the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation (RREC) (Jaipur) to approve proposal for development of solar parks in the state.

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