90 GW! Rajasthan State Unveils Renewable Energy Generation Plan

Rajasthan Unveils Renewable Energy Policy 2050 with a Target of 90 GW by 2030

 

Rajasthan, the largest state in India, has recently unveiled a draft of its "Rajasthan Energy Policy 2050" with the aim of transitioning towards a sustainable and eco-friendly economy.

 

2030 Target: Rajasthan aims to achieve an installed capacity of 90 GW in solar and wind power.

 

One of the key objectives of this policy is to install a total capacity of 90 GW in solar and wind power facilities by the year 2030. The rapid growth in renewable energy capacity is expected to create job opportunities for 110,000 people in Rajasthan, covering a range of skills required for business development, project design, construction, commissioning, and maintenance.

 

The state also plans to expand its rooftop solar development. Rajasthan has untapped potential for rooftop solar installations, with a potential of 5.5 GW, yet only 835 MW of rooftop solar systems were installed as of September 2022.

 

Additionally, Rajasthan is committed to achieving 100% compliance with the National Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) targets and significantly reducing the Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses of distribution companies to 12% to 15% by 2025-26, down from the alarming 26.23% in 2021.

 

2050 Vision: Rajasthan aims to increase its non-fossil fuel-based power generation to 70%.

 

Rajasthan's long-term goals include increasing the share of non-fossil fuel-based power generation from 20% in 2020 to 70%.

 

At the same time, Rajasthan aims to reduce AT&C losses in the distribution sector to below 10%, a significant improvement from the 26.23% recorded in 2021.

 

(1) Green Hydrogen

One notable aspect of this policy is Rajasthan's explicit focus on the production of green hydrogen, a critical resource for decarbonization across sectors. The state currently consumes approximately 250,000 tons of hydrogen. The state government has committed to investing INR 40,000 crore (approximately $5.4 billion) in green hydrogen production. This investment will facilitate the creation of 5 GW of green hydrogen capacity, primarily generated through solar PV systems and advanced electrolysis technologies.

 

To drive this transformation, the state plans to formulate a comprehensive "Green Hydrogen Policy."

 

(2) Progress Roadmap

The policy outlines two broad economic goals and 14 specific sectoral objectives to be achieved by 2050.

• Reduce fossil energy intensity of the state's economy by 60% compared to 2020 levels.
• Target a reduction of 700 million tons of carbon emissions from 2020 to 2050.

 

While Rajasthan's energy transition holds great promise, it also faces challenges. The state must reduce carbon emissions while meeting the growing demand for electricity, improve the financial health of distribution companies, and encourage consumer participation.

 

Currently, over 70% of Rajasthan's power comes from coal-based generation, accounting for 54% of its total emissions in 2020. If this trend continues, carbon emissions from the state's power sector are projected to increase by 88% by 2050 compared to 2020, as electricity demand is expected to surge by 325%. To address this, Rajasthan must aggressively expand its deployment of renewable energy beyond its current target of 37.5 GW by 2025, which will require substantial efforts to integrate variable renewable generation into the grid.

 

Furthermore, industry collaborations will be fostered in areas such as advanced biofuels adoption and workforce development.

 

Transitioning Towards a Cleaner Energy Future

This policy aims to rapidly reduce industrial energy emissions through increased grid electrification, enhanced energy efficiency, and the establishment of green hydrogen hubs.

 

By 2030, the policy targets industrial grid electricity consumption to increase from 32% in 2020 to 40%. It also seeks to achieve global energy efficiency standards in sectors like cement and textiles, positioning Rajasthan as a hub for green hydrogen production in India.

 

The transportation sector, which accounts for a significant portion of Rajasthan's carbon emissions and energy demand, is also a focus. By 2030, the policy aims to achieve a modal share of over 40% for non-motorized and public transportation and widespread adoption of electric vehicles. By 2050, the goal is to achieve an 80% penetration rate for electric vehicles, with widespread electrification of passenger and taxi fleets.

 

By 2030, the policy aims to meet 45% of Rajasthan's agricultural electricity demand with renewable energy, including on-grid and off-grid renewable energy generation facilities, while improving farm irrigation efficiency to 40%.

 

By 2050, the state aspires to meet 75% of its agricultural electricity demand with renewable energy while committing to enhancing farm irrigation efficiency to 70%.

 

According to a recent report by research firm Mercom India Research, Rajasthan has the highest cumulative installed capacity of large-scale solar power among all states in India, with over 16 GW of installed capacity as of the end of the second quarter of 2023, accounting for approximately 29% of India's cumulative installed capacity of utility-scale solar systems.

 

The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission recently issued a new renewable purchase obligation (RPO) for the state, incorporating energy storage systems, mobile solar systems, and biomass facilities into another RPO category.

 

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