The Ananthapuram Ultra Mega Solar Park is another significant solar project
in India, located in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. Here are the
key features of this solar park:
1. Size and Capacity
Area: The Ananthapuram Ultra Mega Solar Park spans around 5,923
hectares (59.23 square kilometers), making it one of the largest solar
parks in India.
Capacity: The park has a total installed capacity of 1,000 MW (1 GW),
which places it among the largest solar parks in the country.
2. Location and Climate
Location: The park is situated in Anantapur district, which is located in
the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, around 350 km from
Hyderabad.
Climate: The region enjoys abundant sunlight throughout the year, with
over 300 sunny days annually. This makes it ideal for large-scale solar
power generation. The dry, arid climate also ensures high solar irradiance,
maximizing energy output.
3. Technology and Infrastructure
The park is primarily based on photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which
convert sunlight into electricity.
Advanced technologies like solar tracking systems and bifacial
solar panels (which capture sunlight from both sides) are used to
improve energy efficiency and enhance the overall power generation
capacity.
The generated electricity is fed into the Andhra Pradesh state grid and
the national grid.
4. Development and Investment
The Ananthapuram Solar Park was developed in phases, with a total
capacity of 1,000 MW once fully operational.
The project is part of India's broader initiative to ramp up its renewable
energy capacity. It is being developed by NTPC Limited (National Thermal
Power Corporation) and private sector players, under the guidance of the
Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
The total investment for the park is estimated at approximately ₹5,000
crore (about 600 million USD).
5. Environmental Impact
The park helps in reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels like
coal and natural gas, thus contributing significantly to lowering carbon
emissions and combating climate change.
The clean energy generated from this solar park contributes to India’s
renewable energy goals, including its target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-
based energy capacity by 2030.
6. Energy Generation and Grid Connection
The Ananthapuram Solar Park generates around 2,000 million units (2
TWh) of electricity annually.
The electricity is distributed across Andhra Pradesh and integrated into
the national grid to help meet the growing energy demand.
7. Job Creation and Economic Impact
The construction and operation of the solar park have created several
thousand direct and indirect jobs in the region.
The project has stimulated local economic development by boosting
infrastructure, including the construction of roads, transmission lines, and
electricity storage facilities.
8. Sustainability and Innovation
The Ananthapuram Solar Park is located in a semi-arid region, which is
less suited for agriculture, making it an ideal location for solar power
generation.
The park is built with sustainability in mind, using minimal water for
operations and adopting dry cleaning technologies for maintaining the
solar panels.
9. Challenges and Solutions
Land acquisition: As with other large-scale solar parks, acquiring land in
a desert or semi-arid region posed some challenges. However, the Andhra
Pradesh government worked with developers to streamline the process.
Dust accumulation: The park faces dust-related challenges, typical for
regions with a dry climate. To mitigate this, automated cleaning systems
and occasional manual cleaning techniques are employed to ensure the
solar panels operate at peak efficiency.
10. Future Expansion
There are plans for further expansions of the Ananthapuram Solar Park,
with additional capacity being added to make it even more significant in
India’s renewable energy sector.
Future upgrades may involve integrating next-generation solar
technologies to improve energy generation and storage capacities.
Conclusion
The Anantha Puram Ultra Mega Solar Park plays an important role in India’s
solar energy strategy, contributing to the country's renewable energy targets
and its goal of reducing carbon emissions. By utilizing the arid land of Anantapur
district, it maximizes solar energy generation while promoting sustainable
development and job creation in the region. This park, with its large scale and
cutting-edge technology, stands as a testament to India’s commitment to clean
and renewable energy.
