India is building the largest renewable energy power plant on the planet in the Khavda region, in the state of Gujarat.
The company Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) plans to install around 60 million solar panels and 770 wind turbines in this 538 square kilometer desert area.
The goal is to produce 30 GW of electric power by 2029, almost double the current output of the world’s largest plant.
Although the Khavda plant is not yet completed, it is already generating large amounts of energy. “Today, we can produce up to 11 GW of electricity,” says Maninder Singh Pental, vice president of Adani Green Energy. “By 2029, we will be able to produce up to 30 GW.”
If this goal is achieved, the Khavda power plant will surpass China’s Three Gorges hydroelectric dam, which has a capacity of 18 GW, and become the world’s largest renewable electricity production center.
Infrastructure and Innovative Technology
So far, the most important infrastructures have been built, such as roads and connectivity points. The project also includes the construction of India’s largest onshore wind turbine, with a capacity of 5.2 megawatts, bifacial photovoltaic solar modules, and single-axis horizontal tracking systems. In addition, AGEL will implement an artificial intelligence system to monitor the operation of the entire facility in real time.
Once completed, the Khavda plant could supply energy to 16.1 million homes, significantly contributing to India’s energy ambitions. According to a report from the International Energy Agency, the country should “almost triple its renewable capacity from 2022 to 2030.”
Challenges and the Future of Renewable Energy in India
The project faces challenges due to a recent scandal that threatens to reduce future investment. The company’s founder, Gautam Adani, and several subordinates have been accused of fraud and bribery by the French company TotalEnergies, which owns 20% of the Khavda plant. TotalEnergies has stated that it will not make new investments in Indian group companies until these events are clarified.
India still generates most of its electricity from coal, which accounts for 70% of production.
“If India follows the same path as China, Europe, and the United States, a very bleak climate future awaits us,” warns Sagar Adani, nephew of Gautam Adani. However, the Adani Group is one of the largest importers and producers of coal in India, contributing to this issue.
AGEL’s plan is supported by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has promised that renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, will provide 50% of India’s energy needs by the end of this decade.
The Indian government has set a target of 500 gigawatts of clean electricity generation capacity by 2030, and the new plant aims to contribute at least 9% of that figure.
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