Rajasthan Aims for Self-Reliance in Power and Energy | 10 Jul 2024

The Rajasthan government aims to produce 30 gigawatt (Gw) of solar power by the end of FY25 to become self-reliant in the power and energy sector.

In March 2024, The state government and Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited (NLC) India signed an agreement to form a joint venture for setting up a 1,000 megawatt (Mw) solar power plant and a 125 MW lignite-based power plant in Bikaner, with an investment of over Rs 7,000 crore.
- The government also approved land for four major solar projects to make the state a leader in energy self-sufficiency.
- The projects include three solar parks in Bikaner totaling 2,450 MW and a 500 MW project in Phalodi.
The state is also strengthening the PM Kusum Solar pump plant, which will assist in installing solar pumps in more than 50,000 farms and produce 200 MW of electricity.
- The initiative also encourages the adoption of renewable energy sources and plays a significant part in revitalizing the agriculture sector in the state through the implementation of solar-powered pumps.

The PM-KUSUM scheme was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to support installation of off-grid solar pumps in rural areas and reduce dependence on grid, in grid-connected areas.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had in February 2019 approved the launch of the scheme with the objective of providing financial and water security.
The government’s Budget for 2020-21 expanded the scope for the scheme with 20 lakh farmers to be provided assistance to install standalone solar pumps; another 15 lakh farmers to be given help to solarise their grid-connected pump sets.
This will enable farmers to set up solar power generation capacity on their barren lands and to sell it to the grid.