India is now home to the world’s largest renewable energy park, located in a remote area near Pakistan.
The barren land was converted into a 538 square-kilometre renewable energy park spanning five times the size of Paris, originally accessed by a small airstrip without basic infrastructure. Despite its desolate surroundings, the area boasts excellent solar radiation and wind speeds, ideal for renewable energy generation.
Adani Green Energy Ltd., headed by Gautam Adani, will invest ₹1.5 lakh crore to generate 30 gigawatts of clean electricity at Khavda. Already, 2 gigawatts have been commissioned, with further expansions planned annually.
Numerous issues exist, like saline water, a lack of infrastructure, and dust storms. Despite these obstacles, Adani Group has built colonies for workers, desalination plants, and essential utilities. The project aims to harness 26 gigawatts of solar and 4 gigawatts of wind capacity, contributing significantly to India’s renewable energy goals.
The park’s strategic location near the international border necessitates security measures, with the BSF monitoring the one-kilometre buffer zone. Adani Group’s ambitious plans align with India’s target of generating 500 gigawatts of electricity from non-fossil sources by 2030.
Khavda is a cutting-edge project in renewable energy infrastructure that the government has leased for 40 years and uses robotic solar panel cleaning systems to power.