750 MW solar park planned in Banaskantha

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat’s solar dreams are getting bigger.

After setting up Asia’s largest 500 MW solar park at Charnka village in Patan, the state government plans to set up an even bigger solar park with an estimated capacity of 750 MW in Vav taluka of Banaskantha district.

Government sources said that a formal proposal has already been forwarded to the union ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE). Over 1,400 hectares land has been identified in Vav and talks are on with the state revenue department for its acquisition. The total cost of setting up solar park will be decided after negotiations for the land is complete, said an official.

The solar park will come up under the Scheme for Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects of the union ministry that was announced by the Central government in the budget for 2014-15.

Gujarat is the top solar power producer in the country. Out of the total 1686 MW grid-connected solar power in the country, Gujarat generates 857 MW.

The Gujarat Solar Park at Charnka was the first solar power park in the country. Currently, 274 MW solar power is generated from his park which is spread across 5,384 acres of land.

The Charnka park was set up with an investment of Rs 4,500 crore that included Rs 550 crore for infrastructure and land acquisition and Rs 3,996 crore invested by various developers. The park also created permanent jobs for more than 1,000 people.