Rajasthan's Giant Solar Power Leap
The bad news; Only 25% of the target set for solar power generation has been met in Phase 1 of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, which ends next year, i.e. 2013. India needs to do more if it wants to harness solar power.
The interesting news: one state, Rajasthan, has commissioned and undertaken solar power projects in numbers that are way ahead of any other Indian state under the centrally sponsored scheme of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. If successful and sustainable, the desert state can set an example for many states and perhaps even nations to follow.
A quick background; in an effort to combat climate change, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission on January 11, 2010. The mission recommended implementation in three stages leading up to an installed capacity of 20,000 MW by the end of the 13th Five Year Plan in 2022.
IndiaSpend's Prachi Salve and Danielle Collaco filed a Right To Information (RTI) petition with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to dig out more details on the mission.
The Ministry says the government has approved an amount of Rs 4,337 crore for activities proposed under the first phase of JNNSM till March 2013. The outlay is being financed though Gross Budgetary Support to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
The mission is divided into three phases: the first phase (2010-13) is expected to add approximately 1,300 MW of solar power with a budgetary support of Rs 4,337 crore. Phase 1 is divided into four schemes: Migration Scheme (Potential for generating 84 MW), New Projects Scheme-Batch 1, New Projects Scheme-Batch 2, Roof top Photo Voltaic Cell (PV) and Small Solar Power Generation Programme (RPSSGP) (98.05 MW).
Table 1: Schemes Under Phase 1 of JNNSM
| Name of Scheme | Potential Solar Power (In MW) |
| Projects Under Migration Scheme | 84 |
| Projects Under New Projects Scheme-Batch 1 | 620 |
| Projects Under New Projects Scheme-Batch 2 | 350 |
| Roof Top PV & Small Solar Power Generation Programme | 98.05 |
Source: Press Information Bureau
The second phase (2013-17) plans to create approximately 4,000-11,000 MW of solar power. Financial requirement for Phase 2 will depend on the review of the implementation of Phase 1. And finally, the third phase (2017-22) aims to create approximately 20-22,000 MW of solar power.
Table 2 offers more details of the Mission.
Table 2: Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission Roadmap
| Application Segment | Target For Phase I (2010-13) | Cumulative Target For Phase 2 (2013-17) | Cumulative Target For Phase 3 (2017-22) |
| Grid solar power (large plants, roof top & distribution grid plants) | 1,100 MW | 4,000 – 10,000 MW | 20,000 MW |
| Off-grid solar applications | 200 MW | 1,000 MW | 2,000 MW |
| Solar Thermal Collectors (SWHs, solar cooking/cooling, Industrial process heat applications etc) | 7 million sq metres | 15 million sq metres | 20 million sq metres |
| Solar Lighting System | 5 million | 10 million | 20 million |
Source: RTI Filed By IndiaSpend
1,142 MW To Be Generated From Phase 1
Under Phase 1 of the JNNSM, a total of 157 projects were supposed to be completed. These projects would generate about 1,142.05 MW of solar power.
Let's take a look at the state-wise break-up of the total number of allotted projects under the JNNSM.
Table 3: Total Number of Allotted Projects Under JNNSM
| Name of State | No of Allotted Projects | Potential of Electricity Generation (in MW) |
| Andhra Pradesh | 16 | 95.5 |
| Chhattisgarh | 2 | 4 |
| Gujarat | 1 | 20 |
| Haryana | 9 | 8.8 |
| Jharkhand | 8 | 16 |
| Karnataka | 1 | 5 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 3 | 5.25 |
| Maharashtra | 9 | 46 |
| Orissa | 9 | 13 |
| Punjab | 9 | 15.5 |
| Rajasthan | 72 | 873 |
| Tamil Nadu | 9 | 22 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 6 | 13 |
| Uttarakhand | 3 | 5 |
| All India | 157 | 1,142.05 |
Source: RTI Filed By IndiaSpend
Rajasthan Gets Lion's Share
As you can see from Table 3, the highest number of projects (72) has been allotted to Rajasthan, which will potentially generate 873 MW of solar power.
Gujarat and Karnataka have the lowest number of projects with one project each with the potential of generating 20 MW and 5 MW, respectively.
In the first phase of the JNNSM, out of a total of 157 projects, about 102 projects have been commissioned by the government, which are expected to generate about 261 MW of solar power.
Let's take a look at the state-wise break-up of all the commissioned projects under Phase 1.
Table 4: Total Number of Commissioned Projects Under JNNSM
| Name of State | Number of Commissioned Projects | Potential of Electricity Generation (in MW) |
| Andhra Pradesh | 12 | 19.75 |
| Chhattisgarh | 2 | 4 |
| Gujarat | 0 | 0 |
| Haryana | 8 | 7.8 |
| Jharkhand | 8 | 16 |
| Karnataka | 1 | 5 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 0 | 0 |
| Maharashtra | 6 | 16 |
| Orissa | 8 | 12 |
| Punjab | 6 | 8 |
| Rajasthan | 38 | 147.5 |
| Tamil Nadu | 6 | 10 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 4 | 10 |
| Uttarakhand | 3 | 5 |
| All India | 102 | 261.05 |
Source: RTI Filed By IndiaSpend
As you can see from Table 4, Rajasthan has the highest number of commissioned projects at 38, which are supposed to generate 147.5 MW. Andhra Pradesh has the second highest number of commissioned projects (12) to generate about 19.75 MW of solar power.
The cost of solar power – thanks to cheaper solar cells - is dropping steadily, becoming more affordable every year. Entrepreneurs are also developing interesting, localized applications like rooftop power systems rather than massive power stations which carry their own cost and operations risk. For a sunshine rich country like India, solar seems a sure way to go. Question is whether the Rajasthan example will find more takers.
