APT Translations

All of that solar needs a lot of space. Powering just one megawatt of capacity requires at least five acres, meaning a 200-megawatt project (roughly 3,000 panels) takes up as much space as 550 American football fields.

The green hydrogen policy has been set for 5 years. Industries establishing themselves within this timeframe will receive subsidies and other incentives totalling Rs 5,045 crore.

"The park is proposed to be constructed in 24 months from the investment approval and will generate about 2,400 MUs (million units) of electricity every year," NHPC said.

An energy storage system of 250 MW/500 MW means 250 MW of battery energy can provide power backup for two hours, giving a total output of 500 MW.

NHPC Renewable Energy Ltd's Chief Executive Officer, S.P. Rathour, outlined the firm's objectives, focusing on adding 10GW of hydroelectric power by 2030 and 2GW of solar energy by 2026. Rathour emphasized the critical need for a unified approach to bolster the solar sector's growth and achieve the national ambition of 500GW renewable capacity by 2030. "Supply chain enhancement and support for indigenous manufacturing are pivotal for the expansion," he asserted.

Key speakers from leading organizations shed light on the hurdles of land acquisition, the pivotal role of technology, and the bright prospects that reduced battery storage costs could usher in for India's energy landscape.

Ashok Kumar Rajput, Member (Power System) of the Central Electricity Authority, highlighted the urgent need to comprehensively address energy security, grid stability, and operational efficiency. "These elements are foundational to the sustainable development and reliability of our power systems, ensuring that the energy needs of the country are met efficiently and reliably," Rajput stated, emphasizing the comprehensive approach required to sustain the nation's energy future.

The agreement specifies a PPA tariff of ₹2.705 per kWh, with the project expected to generate an annual electricity output of 1,577.88 Million Units (MU), cumulating to 39.447 Billion Units (BU) over its lifetime. This initiative is estimated to offset about 35.5 Million Metric Tons of CO2 emissions, contributing significantly to India's environmental sustainability goals.

Mohit Bhargava, former CEO of NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd, addressed the pressing issues of capacity and pricing in module manufacturing. "Addressing the capacity and pricing of module manufacturing is pivotal for achieving the 500 GW renewable capacity goal. Equally significant are the challenges of affordability and availability in the sector," Bhargava stated. He also pointed out the substantial demand within the solar and renewable industry, underscoring the considerable scope for growth and development.

"Solar energy is a pivotal element in the shift towards clean energy. However, the challenge of securing large, uninterrupted tracts of land significantly hampers the timely execution of projects," Gupta was quoted saying. He underscored the importance of solar energy in India's clean energy transition but highlighted land acquisition as a major impediment.