Gujarat leads wind power surge, setting up world’s largest hybrid energy park

Gujarat, with the longest coastline in the country of 1,600 km, experiences winds at 10 metres per second, fostering an advantage for wind energy production.

This strategic advantage brought Gujarat to lead India’s wind power sector.

India has emerged as the fourth-largest onshore wind energy market globally, boasting a capacity of 41.98 GW. Gujarat accounts for a substantial 9.8 GW of this capacity.

Gujarat’s wind power generation

In 2022, Gujarat achieved the second highest wind energy capacity in India, trailing only behind Tamil Nadu.

Looking forward, the Global Wind Energy council’s March 2023 report outlines India’s ambitious plan to add over 60 GW of onshore and nearly 40 GW of offshore windmill capacity by 2030.

These targets reflect a significant commitment to clean energy and a shift away from fossil fuel dependence.

While solar panels cease power generation post-sunset, wind turbines continue to harness energy through the night. This complementary aspect makes wind energy a compelling choice for India’s future energy mix.

Gujarat’s Renewable Energy policy

The Renewable Energy policy for 2023-2028 was unveiled in Gujarat. This policy aims to fulfil 50% of the state’s energy needs through renewable sources by 2030, eyeing investments worth ₹5 lakh cr.

It includes ground-mounted solar, rooftop solar, floating solar, canal top solar, and wind-hybrid projects.

A key feature of this policy is the decentralisation of renewable energy (RE) generation, encouraging industry participation. It removes previous capacity restrictions, allowing firms to now meet 100% of their energy requirements, as compared to the earlier 50% cap, through their own RE plants.

Additionally, companies can now collectively purchase renewable power from Renewable Energy Service Companies (Rescos), saving on various surcharges associated with third-party power sales.

In years to come

The policy’s implementation, however, faces challenges including rate determination under the new rules and replicating the success of rooftop solar projects in the wind sector.

Gujarat is also currently developing the Gujarat Hybrid Renewable Energy park, situated near Vighakot village in the Kutch district of Gujarat.

Upon completion, this facility will generate 30 gigawatts of electricity, utilising both solar panels and wind turbines. Covering an area of 1.79 lakh acres, predominantly on wasteland, the park will be the world’s largest hybrid renewable energy park.

The park will also have a 14 GWh grid-scale battery storage system.

It is estimated to create around one lakh job opportunities and attract investments amounting to ₹1.5 lakh crore. From an environmental perspective, the park is projected to contribute to carbon emission reduction, with an estimated 5 cr tonnes cut annually.

(Source: IANS)

- Edited for style

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