NTPC to build India’s largest solar park in Rann of Kutch

Source: PIB

What is the News?

NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL), a 100% subsidiary of NTPC, will set up the country’s single largest solar park at Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

About the Solar Park in Gujarat:

• The 4,750-megawatt(MW) Solar Park at Rann of Kutch in Gujarat will be set up by NTPC Renewable Energy ltd.
• The project has been approved under Mode 8 (Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park) of Solar Park Scheme.
• This will be India’s largest solar park to be built by the largest power producer of the country.

Other Projects of NTPC:

• NTPC has commissioned India’s largest Floating Solar of 10 MW on the reservoir of Simhadri Thermal Power Plant, Andhra Pradesh.
• Further, a 100 MW Floating Solar Project on the reservoir of Ramagundam Thermal Power Plant, Telangana is in the advanced stage of implementation.

Note:

• Floating solar refers to a solar power production installation mounted on a structure that floats on a body of water, typically an artificial basin or a lake.
• Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects are a series of solar power projects planned by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.Each power project has a minimum capacity of 500 MW.

About Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects Scheme:

• The Solar Park Scheme was launched by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy in 2014.
• Under this scheme, it was proposed to set up at least 25 Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects. It aimed at over 20,000 MW of solar power installed capacity within a span of 5 years starting from 2014-15.
• The capacity of the Scheme has now been enhanced from 20,000 MW to 40,000 MW in 2017. The parks are also proposed to be set up by 2021-22.
• There are eight modes under which the scheme is being implemented.