India to Build World’s Largest Solar Plant

India has announced plans to construct the world’s largest solar power plant in Gujarat, symbolizing the country’s ambitious drive towards renewable energy.

The project in the Khavda desert near the Pakistan border will feature an extensive array of solar panels and wind turbines, setting a global benchmark in sustainable energy development.

Situated in Gujarat's Khavda region, the plant will cover an area of 538 square kilometers, roughly five times the size of Paris and comparable to sprawling Mumbai.

The facility will house approximately 60 million solar panels and 770 wind turbines, each 200 meters high. The infrastructure is already operational at a capacity of 1.73 gigawatts and is monitored in real time by technical teams.

Maninder Singh Bental, Vice President of Adani Green Energy—a subsidiary of India’s Adani Group partnered with France’s TotalEnergies—stated that by 2029, the plant aims to generate a staggering 30 gigawatts of power. This output is set to surpass the 18-gigawatt capacity of China’s massive Three Gorges Dam.

India, now the world’s most populous country, has doubled energy consumption since 2000 due to rapid urbanization, economic growth, and demographic expansion. To meet its commitment to carbon neutrality by 2070, the nation has outlined bold renewable energy targets.

By 2030, India aims to increase its renewable energy capacity from 200 gigawatts to 500 gigawatts, including 300 gigawatts dedicated to solar power.

A recent International Energy Agency (IEA) report lauded India’s progress, projecting that the country will triple its renewable energy capacity by 2030, securing its position as the third-largest global market for renewables.

The Adani Group spearheads India's renewable energy revolution, investing $35 billion in renewable projects by 2030. Sagar Adani, CEO of the group’s renewable energy division, highlighted the significance of large-scale projects like Khavda in meeting the country’s energy demands.

While Gujarat celebrates its renewable energy strides, Tamil Nadu faces the aftermath of Cyclone Vingal. The cyclone, which struck Tamil Nadu and the neighboring Puducherry region, disrupted road and air transport and caused significant damage.

Accompanied by winds of 70-90 km/h and heavy rainfall, the storm has prompted emergency measures to mitigate its impact on local communities.