Global solar technology manufacturer and provider of solar energy services SunEdison Inc today signed an MoU with the state government of Rajasthan to establish 5,000 MW capacity of solar power in next five years. Under the project, multiple mega solar power projects will be set up on estimate 25,000 acres of land in the state. Capacity of most of the projects will be 500 MW, Pashupathy Gopalan, President and MD – Asia Operations of the company told reporters here.
The company would also work with the state government to design a programme for slowly and steady shifting of electric irrigation pumps, which are around 11 lakh in the state, to solar pumps which would not only provide power to the farmers to pump water during the day time but also feeding electricity to feeder when not pumping, he said. "This is also a part of the MoU and we will work with the government to design such programme," he said.
"Rajasthan has the potential to become solar hub of the world. Cost of solar energy is coming down significantly and it can play important role in addressing the need of power in the country," Gopalan, whose company already has a project in the state, said. He informed that the government would facilitate the identification of the land suitable for the development of solar PV projects as well as allot land on a long term lease in accordance with the state policies. Additionally, the government would also create and provide the necessary electricity interconnection infrastructure.
