Pralhad Joshi Inaugurates 435 MW Solar Plant in Rajasthan, Hails It as a Model of Speed and Sustainability

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has officially inaugurated the massive 435 MW Gorbea Solar Power Plant in Rajasthan, delivered in just under eight months—an impressive feat of speed and sustainability. Spanning 1,250 acres and backed by a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), the clean-energy project is expected to generate approximately 755 GWh annually—enough to power nearly 128,000 homes—and reduce carbon emissions by about 705,000 tonnes each year. Joshi highlighted Rajasthan’s renewable energy dominance, noting that nearly 70% of the state’s energy capacity now comes from renewables—29.5 GW of solar and 5.2 GW of wind. He also emphasized the project’s inclusive structure, where solar modules sit atop land leased from local farmers, transforming them into energy stakeholders and providing stable income. During construction, over 700 local residents were employed, and supporting infrastructure—including a substation and a 6.5 km transmission line—was completed in five months. Advanced TOPCon bifacial mono PERC solar panels paired with more than 1,300 robotic cleaning units have been deployed to boost operational efficiency. Joshi praised Rajasthan’s pro-green policies like the Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2024 and the Green Hydrogen Policy, and highlighted nation‑wide initiatives under schemes such as PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM, which have supported over 49,000 rooftop solar installations with ₹325 crore in subsidies. He urged officials to fast-track the pending 270,000 applications to sustain the clean-energy momentum.