India is going to be the host to the world’s largest solar power system of 4000MW’s. The Sambhar Ultra Mega Green Solar Power Project is expected to be built near Sambhar lake in Rajasthan. 

The solar project is set to use around 23,000 acres in the area of Sambhar Salts Limited (SSL), subsidiary of Hindustan Salts Limited (HSL) located in Rajasthan. The project will be completed in phases with the first phase of 1000MW’s expected to be commissioned within the next three years. The project is expected to be completed in total by 2022. The first phase alone will make the system the world’s largests.

A release said, “The first phase of the project is expected to be implemented through a joint venture (JV) company to be formed with equity from BHEL, Solar Energy Corporation of India, Power Grid Corporation, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam and Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Ltd.”

The system will sell power at a tariff of Rs5.50 per unit – probably close to the lowest tariff ever – therefore helping to bring the price of solar power down. It is expected to generate around 6000 million units of power annually with the power generated to be sold to various states through the National Grid.

Four other Ultra Mega Power Plants have been built, or currently under construction, in India are coal based. As a result of carbon concerns and fuel availablity, they all use expensive imported fossil fuels and are struggling in terms of financial viability not to mention environmentally harmful.

India is one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases and could use more alternative energies in the future.