33 Solar Parks Out of 55 Approved So Far Either Operational Or Under Development: MNRE

New Delhi, Dec 23 (KNN) As many as 33 solar parks out of 55 approved under the Development of Solar Parks and Ultra-Mega Solar Power Projects scheme are either operational or under development, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). They together account for 20.7 GW capacity.

Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU)-state collaborations aim to ease land acquisition for utility-scale solar projects, with companies like NTPC Green Energy Ltd (NGEL) and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) forming state-specific joint ventures where states take equity for providing land.

Land Acquisition Challenges

Land, a state subject, poses a challenge for large-scale solar, often conflicting with agriculture or ecology. MNRE is working with states to map renewable zones, identifying 258 GW potential across five states alongside the Central Electricity Authority’s 500 GW transmission plan.

The ministry has urged states and union territories to earmark government or non-agricultural land for solar projects and relax land-use rules. While private developers secure land, MNRE coordinates with states to fast-track revenue land allocation on request.

Parliamentary Recommendations

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy has cited fragmented land ownership, legal hurdles, lack of contiguous parcels near grids, and weak infrastructure as challenges. It recommended a single-window clearance system with central and state stakeholders to resolve land issues promptly.

(KNN Bureau)