Adani Green Energy Limited, the renewable energy arm of the Adani Group is building what will likely be the world’s largest renewable energy project – the Khavda Renewable Energy Park – on a salt desert in Kutch, which is a part of Gujarat in western India.
When completed in 3 years, the $2.26 billion solar and wind energy project will be visible from space, spanning 280 square miles. It will generate 30 gigawatts, enough to power 18 million Indian homes.
“Twenty years ago, India was exactly where a vast expanse of [the] developing world was,” Ajay Mathur, director general of the International Solar Alliance, said of the country’s renewable energy production. The alliance has 120 member countries and promotes renewable energy — primarily solar — across the world.
Now, this project underscores India’s ambitious push into renewable energy to meet its target of 500 gigawatts of clean energy by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2070. Currently, fossil fuels generate over 70% of India’s electricity and it is the world’s third largest carbon emitter. The Khavda project alone will contribute significantly to India’s clean energy transition.
Located 43 miles from the nearest town, 4,000 workers and 500 engineers have been living in makeshift camps on the harsh marshy site for nearly a year, dealing with floods and high winds while racing to get the project operational on schedule. The first 6 months were spent just developing basic infrastructure before work could begin.
About 124 miles away in the industrial city of Mundra, also located along the Gujarat state’s coastline, the Adani Group is manufacturing the solar and wind energy parts needed for the project. It’s one of the few locations in India where most solar energy components are made from scratch. Some of the factories are run like laboratories, with protective gear, face masks and head covers required to avoid dust particles that can compromise solar cells.
The project highlights India’s remarkable progress in renewable energy over the past 20 years, setting an example for other developing nations to emulate. However, some environmental experts caution that India’s decision to exempt renewable projects from environmental impact assessments could have adverse consequences. The salt desert is a unique habitat for flora and fauna that may be threatened.
Residents near the remote project site are also uncertain how the massive development nearby will ultimately impact their community and economy – whether by spurring tourism and business growth or compromising traditional local livelihoods. Nevertheless, many remain hopeful the project will bring more benefits than problems.
