Dec 8 2010
Charanaka, a village in remote Patan district, in North Gujarat, India, has been chosen by the Gujarat state government to install its first solar hub called Gujarat Solar Park. The solar park planned with an investment of around 8,000 crore Indian rupees is expected to cover approximately 3,000 acres of land in the village.
Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam (GUVNL), the utility of the state, is in the process of contracting long term power purchase accords with 80 solar investing companies who have shown interest in the project. Most of the companies have submitted their proposals to set up 1 MW to 45 MW solar power generation units. In the first phase of the development, the solar park anticipates to install and commission around 500 MW and looking forward to commission 1000 MW in 2013 and 20,000 MW by 2022. Gujarat has plans to generate approximately 965 MW from the 80 projects to invite over 15,000 crore as investment to the state in the next few years.
Charanaka has been chosen for the project due to its high level of solar exposure of 5.8-6.0kWh and the state has already gained over 2,500 acres of land required for the park in the village. It is planning to have all the essential infrastructure facilities installed by December and well before its planned Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, 2011. The government has identified few more places in north Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch regions for developing solar projects.