Tenders: 14 solar parks delayed; 9 completed, says Minister

Parliament told of challenges in acquiring “cleared land” for sites

Fourteen of the 57 Solar Parks approved on 28 Feb 2023 have been delayed because of the challenging environment including mismatch in timelines between solar projects and power evacuation infrastructure, Minister of Renewable Energy & Power R.K. Singh has told Lok Sabha on 16 Mar 2023.

He said the delays were also due to challenges in acquisition of cleared land, environmental issues like Great Indian Bustard (GIB) issue, regulatory challenges like non-approval of solar tariff etc.

However, nine parks have been completed while eight parks are partially complete.

A cumulative solar capacity of 10,117 MW has been commissioned in these parks. The 57 parks are to have aggregate capacity of 39.28 GW.

MNRE takes regular review meetings with various stakeholders like park developers, concerned State Governments to address the issues being faced while implementing the Solar Parks, he assured the house.

The Government has also cancelled or reduced capacity in many Solar Parks where there is slow progress, he informed.

Most Solar Parks are being taken up by the State Government organizations & PSUs.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also been advised to install solar power plants in the open space of airports to reduce their electricity expenditure.

As per information available, solar projects of capacity over 100 MW have been installed in various airports in the country.

The delayed projects are:

Kadapa Solar Park, Andhra Pradesh (750 MW)

Dholera Solar Park, Gujarat (700 MW)

Radhnesada Solar Park, Gujarat (200 MW)

Kasargod Solar Park, Kerala (0.5 MW)

Neemuch Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh (500 MW)

Agar Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh (550 MW)

Shajapur Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh (450 MW)

Vankal Solar Park, Mizoram (20 MW)

Solar Park in Odisha (40 MW)

Dondaicha Solar Park, Maharashtra (250 MW)