Chhattisgarh, India, has recently commissioned the nation’s largest solar power plant, boasting a battery energy storage system. Situated in the mountainous terrain surrounding four to five villages near Gram Dhaba on Dongargarh Road in Rajnandgaon district, this groundbreaking facility ensures uninterrupted power supply even during nighttime through its integrated battery system. With a daily production capacity exceeding 500,000 units of electricity, it’s projected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 4.5 lakh metric tons, thus bolstering the promotion of green energy.
The installation of a 100-megawatt solar plant in Rajnandgaon was entrusted to the Solar Corporation of India (SECI) and Chhattisgarh Power Distribution Company by the Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA). Notably, this marks the country’s first on-grid solar system, featuring 239,000 bifacial solar panels, each with a capacity of 660 watts, allowing for electricity generation from both sides of the panels. With a total project cost of Rs 960 crore, the plant is expected to produce electricity from solar energy for the next seven years.
This significant project, aiming to generate more than 5 lakh units of electricity daily while substantially reducing carbon emissions, is anticipated to set a benchmark in the solar energy sector at both the national and state levels. The initiative, commenced in 2016, stemmed from the decision to harness the optimal potential of the Baron hill area in Rajnandgaon district. It involved the phased establishment of a grid-connected mega solar power plant over government land spanning 626.822 hectares across 17 villages, of which 377.423 hectares were allocated by the Rajnandgaon district administration.
