World's largest clean energy plant goes into operation

India's Khavda Renewable Energy Park delivers 1,000 MW of electricity in less than 12 months after construction began.

Khavda Renewable Energy Park covers an area of 538 square kilometers. Photo: AGEL — Khavda Renewable Energy Park covers an area of 538 square kilometers. Photo: *AGEL*

India is about to get one of the world's largest clean energy farms, reducing its dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation. Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) is building the project near a remote landing site in western India. The estimated capacity of the Khavda Renewable Energy Park solar farm in Gujarat is expected to exceed 30,000 MW (30 GW). In the first phase, the company has already produced a total of 1,000 MW of solar power in Khavda. Construction of the park will be completed in the next five years, with the entire facility due to be commissioned by 2029, according to Interesting Engineering .

The energy park will cover 538 square kilometers, five times the size of Paris. AGEL estimates that the project will create 15,200 jobs and help India reach its goal of generating 40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

The area has high solar radiation of around 2,060 kWh/m2 and one of the richest wind resources in India, with wind speeds of 8 m/s. State-of-the-art technology, including India’s largest onshore wind turbine generator with a capacity of 5.2 MW, will be installed at the plant to take advantage of these natural resources. The solar farm will use bifacial solar modules, which generate electricity from both sides of the module. The facility will also use a horizontal single-axis tracking system, which will help align the solar array to capture more energy.

AGEL delivered 1,000 MW of power in less than 12 months after breaking ground in Khavda, including the installation of 2.4 million solar modules. The park also uses Adani’s advanced Energy Network Control Center (ENOC) platform, which integrates AI and machine learning to enable real-time, automated control and monitoring of the plant. AEGL plans to deploy waterless cleaning robots throughout the facility to tackle dust buildup on panels, increasing power output and conserving water in the arid region.

This ambitious renewable energy project aims to generate 81 billion units of clean electricity, providing renewable electricity to approximately 16.1 million households. In addition, the initiative will help combat climate change by reducing CO2 emissions by 58 million tons, equivalent to the carbon sequestration of 2,761 million trees. This reduction in emissions is equivalent to reducing the burning of 60,300 tons of coal, demonstrating the impact of the project on global greenhouse gas reduction.

AGEL has piloted several advanced technologies at Khavda to help the plant last longer. For example, Adani Infra technology uses underground rock columns to strengthen the soil. The technology was developed through cooperation between many domestic and foreign research institutes. The solar module mounting structure and power distribution equipment are covered with specialized anti-corrosion materials.

An Khang (According to Interesting Engineering )

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