Power from sun instead of coal – Rajasthan Solar
Power from sun instead of coal – Rajasthan Solar
The solar project in Rajasthan delivers clean energy to a region that is still heavily shaped by fossil power generation. The solar park harnesses the power of the sun to produce large amounts of green electricity, replacing CO₂-intensive energy from coal and gas. Year after year, this avoids significant volumes of greenhouse gases and eases the load on the public grid. A solid project that demonstrates how renewable energy can, step by step, contribute to a more climate-friendly electricity supply – reliable, efficient, and with clearly measurable impact.
Technical Project Data – Solar Energy in Rajasthan (GS7760)
The key facts about the solar park at a glance.
| Parameter | Description | Source (Origin of data) |
|---|---|---|
| Installed Capacity | 600 MW (AC) | Project Summary, page 7: “installation of 600 MW solar power project in Rajasthan” |
| Project Location | Jamsar Village, Bikaner District, Rajasthan, India, Coordinates: 28°18'48" N, 73°25'40" E | (Location data table, pages 7 & 26) |
| Project Type | Grid-connected, large-scale solar photovoltaic power plant | Page 7 (“large-scale solar project”) & page 29 (“600 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic power plant”) |
| Methodology | ACM0002 – Grid-connected electricity generation from renewable sources (Version 20.0) | Pages 2 & 26 |
| Module Type | The report confirms: Solar PV modules as per the registered PDD, no modifications. (The specific module type is not detailed in the report, only that the installed modules match the PDD.) | Source: page 8 (“technology of solar PV modules … same as witnessed”) |
| Inverters | No specific brands or models are mentioned; the report confirms compliance with the PDD and the monitoring plan. | Electricity measurement via Secure Energy Meter — page 32 |
| Mounting System | Not explicitly specified in the report. (Utility-scale projects of this size in India are typically fixed-tilt systems, but since this is not stated in the report, it can only be described as a “ground-mounted PV installation.”) | |
| Grid Connection | Electricity is fed into the public Indian power grid (Unified Indian Grid). | Page 8 (“project is connected to Unified Indian grid”) |
| Annual Electricity Generation | Documented for the current monitoring period: 2,159,757 MWh (Monitoring Period 01/10/2022–31/03/2024) | SDG table page 13 & monitoring parameters pages 30–32 |
| Annual Emission Reductions | 1,876,194 tCO₂e (claimed for the monitoring period) Actual verified ER: 2,018,509 tCO₂e, → The difference is transferred to the next monitoring period. | Pages 3, 9, and 13 |
| Commissioning (first units) | Initial commissioning: 15/12/2020, Further phases: January, February, June, August, September, December 2021 | Commissioning table, pages 7–8 |
| Crediting Period | Crediting period: 15/12/2020 – 14/12/2025, Five-year period, renewable twice | Pages 2 & 27 |
| Project Status | Registered & verified – third verification round successfully completed, → Emission reductions recommended for issuance | Final assessment pages 3 and 49 |
| Monitoring & Verification | Regular monitoring of electricity generation and emission reductions, as well as independent verification in accordance with Gold Standard requirements. This includes periodic verification of the electricity fed into the grid. | Gold Standard Rules & Monitoring / Verification Reports |
| Additionality | The economic implementation of the solar project is supported by revenues from the carbon market. Without these revenues, the project would have been less economically attractive or implemented at a later stage. | Project Design Document (Additionality Section) |
| Carbon Credit Rating | No external, independent carbon credit rating by specialised rating agencies has been published to date. | No published assessments |
| Carbon Credit Rating Type | No project-specific external assessment or classification has been applied; Gold Standard relies on its own framework rather than external ratings. | Gold Standard Framework |
| Article 6 Authorisation (Paris Agreement) | No authorisation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement has been indicated; the project is not part of state-based ITMO mechanisms. | Gold Standard Registry |
| CCP Status (ICVCM) | No Core Carbon Principles (CCP) classification has been published to date. | ICVCM (public project lists) |
| Handling of Double Counting Risks | Emission reductions are uniquely attributed to the project and recorded in the Gold Standard Registry. Double counting is prevented through the registration and retirement process. | Gold Standard Registry & Rules |
| Longevity of Emission Reductions | Long-term emission avoidance over the technical lifetime of the solar installations through continuous feed-in of renewable electricity to the public grid. | Project Design Document |
| Risk Management & Safeguards | Technical standards, operation and maintenance concepts, and regulatory requirements in line with Gold Standard provisions ensure long-term project operation. | Project Documentation & Gold Standard Requirements |
What the project can contribute
Here we summarize what the project is actually intended to achieve and which practical improvements it can enable.
- 1
Clean energy instead of fossil power generation
The solar park in Rajasthan produces large amounts of renewable electricity, replacing energy that would otherwise have come mainly from coal-fired power plants. By feeding power into the Indian grid, it avoids more than 1.8 million tonnes of CO₂e per year — a measurable contribution to easing the burden on a heavily fossil-dependent energy system. A clear step away from coal and towards clean electricity generation.
- 2
Strengthening long-term energy security
With an installed capacity of 600 MW, the project contributes to a more stable and reliable electricity supply in Rajasthan. In a state marked by rapid industrial and population growth, the solar park adds grid capacity that matters today and tomorrow. Energy that remains dependable — even as demand continues to rise.
- 3
Accelerating the expansion of renewable energy in India
India is heavily investing in solar energy, and Rajasthan is one of its most important locations. This project demonstrates how large solar parks can gradually replace fossil generation within the grid. The roughly 2.1 TWh of electricity produced each monitoring period highlight its practical relevance in real grid operation. A project that helps drive India’s energy transition across the country.
- 4
Supporting local development
Construction and operation create jobs on the ground, strengthen local service providers, and bring technical expertise to a rural region. At the same time, renewable electricity feed-in improves power quality for households and businesses. An energy project that delivers more than electricity: jobs, skills, and new perspectives.
- 5
Reducing environmental impacts
Solar power requires no fuel, no mining, no water for cooling, and produces no smoke or ash. The environmental impacts are significantly lower than those of coal-fired power generation, which is widespread in Rajasthan. A clear benefit for air quality, resource use, and public health — tangible and lasting.
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Global climate relevance
Emission reductions
The solar park avoids large quantities of CO₂ every year — in the current monitoring period more than 1.8 million tonnes. This reduction occurs directly because solar electricity replaces fossil-based power in the Indian grid. A reliable contribution to reducing greenhouse gases in one of the world’s most CO₂-intensive electricity markets.
Fossil fuel replacement
All electricity generated is fed into the public grid. Without the project, this power would have been generated almost entirely from coal — the dominant energy source in Rajasthan. The project displaces part of the fossil baseload and reduces long-term dependence on coal.
No fuel required
The solar park operates without coal, gas, or oil — and therefore without mining, transport, or combustion. It produces no exhaust gases, no particulate matter, no cooling water demand, and no mining waste. The project shows how emission-free electricity generation works without the typical environmental impacts of fossil power plants.
Additionality
Developing a 600-MW solar park of this size would have been far less attractive without revenue from the carbon market. The sale of carbon credits made the project financially viable and accelerated its implementation. Without climate finance, the solar park would likely have been built later, at a smaller scale — or not at all.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – The relevant and the complementary contributions
In addition to reducing CO₂ emissions, the solar project in Rajasthan creates further positive effects for people and the environment. These support various United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. As with many large-scale solar projects, the strongest contributions are in clean energy (SDG 7) and climate action (SDG 13). Other goals are supported indirectly or in a complementary way.
The solar park generates renewable electricity and feeds it directly into the public grid.
Contribution: More renewable energy in a power system that is heavily dependent on coal.With more than 1.8 million tonnes of avoided CO₂e per year, the project makes a measurable contribution to emission reductions.
Contribution: Reduces greenhouse gases and supports the transition to lower-carbon electricity generation.Construction and operation create jobs and strengthen local service providers in a rural region.
Contribution: Temporary jobs during the construction phase, and some permanent positions during ongoing operations.ion.The project improves regional energy infrastructure and demonstrates how large solar parks can be integrated into the grid.
Contribution: Grid connection and technical advancement in a rapidly growing federal state.Reliable electricity from renewable sources indirectly stabilises the supply for households and businesses.
Contribution: Not a core impact, but supportive in everyday life.Less fossil energy also means less mining, no combustion, no exhaust gases, and no water consumption for cooling.
Contribution: Relevant in the context of energy production, but not a comprehensive SDG 12 effect.
Einordnung und Transparenz
Dieses Windkraftprojekt ist nach dem Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) registriert und wird regelmäßig überwacht und verifiziert. Die dargestellten Emissionsminderungen basieren auf geprüften Monitoringberichten und anerkannten Methoden zur Berechnung von Treibhausgasreduktionen.
Das Projekt steht exemplarisch für Klimaschutzmaßnahmen im Energiesektor, die messbar, nachvollziehbar und langfristig angelegt sind.