Literally, everybody agrees nowadays that we should be focusing more and more on green and renewable energy, right? And when we talk about these two terms, usually it is solar power that comes to mind first, don’t you think? Thankfully, India is one of the leading nations within the space of solar energy to have operations on a big scale to use this for the good of the general public. And that is the very reason why there are so many solar power plants right here in India. So much so that India actually is the home to the biggest solar power plant in the world, yes, we are talking about Bhadla Solar Park. Just like that, today, we are about to take a good look at the top 10 major solar power plants in India as of 2024. So, let’s get going.
1. Bhadla Solar Park, Rajasthan
You may have heard or seen it a couple of times in the headlines that Yes, it is actually India where we have the world’s biggest solar power plants, even surpassing China in this race. And that’s mainly because of the Bhadla Solar Park right here in the desert of Rajasthan. As far as the discussion is concerned about technical details, well, just know that this giant of a solar park sprawls over 14,000 acres in the Thar Desert and has a total output capacity of 2,245 MW. And if anything, using robots to wipe the dust off those panels is insane!
2. Pavagada Solar Park, Karnataka
Next on the list, in other words, the Shakti Sthala, which is the 2,050 MW Pavagada Solar Park, occupies a gigantic land area of about 13k acres, but the uniqueness of it lies in the renting of land from farmers on-site and due to which they can also earn income, you know? Without a single doubt, the fact that it has been running since 2019 makes it a perfect example of community organizing for the sake of getting energy.
3. Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park, Andhra Pradesh
Then, housing 4.5 million panels and generating 1000 MW of electricity, Kurnool Solar Park is a solar farm that is built on a field of 6,000 acres and has been functional since 2017, can you even imagine that? Over the years though, it received public and private support through the Indian government which totaled ₹7,000 crores. It is the power plant that supplies electricity to 800,000 homes every year and thus facilitates the CO2 emissions reduction amounting to 1.9 million tonnes, that’s just something special right there.
4. Ananthapuramu Ultra Mega Solar Park, Andhra Pradesh
Without a single doubt, covering an area of 8,000 acres and with a capacity of 978.5 MW, Ananthapuramu Ultra Mega Solar Park is the largest solar plant in India. Here, you see, the plant was commissioned in 2016 and the government policy favors the use of indigenous solar panels creating on-site employment opportunities and contributing to the government-sponsored renewable energy programs, and that’s kinda the reason why it is so successful.
5. Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh
Next on the list is the Rewa Solar Park, you know, a big solar park that spreads out over 3,900 acres with a total capacity of 750 MW was inaugurated in 2020, and subsequently, it connected to the grid which makes it a part of India and most of the green energy needs fulfillment. Not just that though, it is a fact that this solar park is also a part of the Delhi Metro power system and therefore Asia’s largest single-site solar station.
6. Charanka Solar Park, Gujarat
Sure enough, being the first of its kind in India Charanka Solar Park, which generates 730 MW of energy, was developed in Gujarat by the Didactic Horse Group which pioneered the hybrid solar-wind technology. As far as the history of this one goes, well, this very plant has been in operation since 2012 and continues to be a model of hybrid technologies. Just so you know though, the park is the first one in Gujarat, and it is primarily through it that the state has achieved energy autonomy.
7. Kamuthi Solar Power Plant, Tamil Nadu
Yes, it is the Kamuthi Solar Power Plant in Tamil Nadu that is a massive 648 MW facility that is well known for its top-notch robotic cleaning systems, which are a crucial part of its operational efficiency. Since its commissioning in 2016, the facility has extended over 2,500 acres and it has the capacity to supply the electricity needs of 150,000 homes on an annual basis while at the same time offering considerable greenhouse gas emission reductions, which is a big plus on top.
8. Radhnesada Solar Park, Gujarat
Sure enough, Radhnesada Solar Park, situated in Banaskantha, Gujarat, is presently operational at a 600 MW capacity and has plans for a further increase to 700 MW. As far as the technical details are the talking point, well, this facility with a land area of about 3,500 acres is arguably a prime example of sustainable power generation with the least environmental impacts.
9. Ananthapuramu – II Solar Park, Andhra Pradesh
2nd last on the list, you see, came into the picture 2 years back Ananthapuramu – II Solar Park which made a PV plant of 500 MW capacity for the first time that state Andhra Pradesh has renewable energy supplies its pollution-free electric energy generated by thousands of family units while reducing over-dependence on fossil fuels, you know?
10. Galiveedu Solar Park, Andhra Pradesh
Last on the list, yes, Galiveedu Solar Park is committed to providing 500 MW of clean energy that is tailored according to local needs. Keep in mind that although it is not exactly a large project, it is very much a key supplier of energy to communities around it and shows the potential of smaller-scale solar projects to be a big part of India’s renewable energy portfolio. It was a small step towards India’s big green energy goals, and sure enough, it was kinda successful and contributed quite a lot as of 2024.
Conclusion
There you have it. Sure enough, with all these projects right here in India, we as a nation have sent a clear message to everyone in the world that we’re the ones who will be leading this solar power scene in the future. That is precisely what India is up to.