India turns the desert into a solar 'oasis'

Once a vast desert area, Bhadla Park in Rajasthan now has a completely different look thanks to millions of solar panels.

Bhadla Solar Park in the Thar Desert of India. (Video: AFP)

Rajasthan in western India is the largest state by area but is very sparsely populated, as much of the territory is arid desert with an average of 325 sunny days per year. However, the authorities have turned these harsh conditions to their advantage for the country's solar power revolution.

Today, an estimated 10 million solar panels have been installed on the edge of the Thar desert , creating an oasis - Bhadla park - as far as the eye can see. This is one of the largest solar parks in the world, showing how rapid change can be brought about by technology, innovation, public and private finance.

India with 1.3 billion people is expected to soon overtake China to become the most populous country in the world, which means increasing energy demand. Today, coal power still accounts for 70% of the country's electricity production, making them one of the top emitters of greenhouse gases.

 About 10 million solar panels have been installed on the edge of the Thar desert.

Although green energy in India has grown fivefold in just over a decade to 100 GW this year, the sector still needs further growth to achieve its climate targets. Queen.

At the ongoing COP26 conference in Glasgow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged that India will increase its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW and that by 2030, 50% of the country's energy needs will come from renewable sources. renewables such as wind and solar power.

"I believe this is an aspirational goal, to show the world we are on the right track," expert Vinay Rustagi from India's renewable energy consulting firm Bridge told AFP .

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), over the next two decades, India must add an electricity system the size of Europe to meet the needs of its growing population.

However, reshaping the entire power grid takes a lot of time and money. About 80% of India's solar cells today are still imported from China, the world's largest producer. In his speech at COP26, Prime Minister Modi expected developed countries to provide the necessary financial support for the country to achieve its goals.