Energy Resources and Power Projects in Rajasthan
1. Overview and Evolution of the Energy Sector in Rajasthan
Historical Evolution
- **1949 (At the time of Integration):** Rajasthan had an installed power generating capacity of merely **13.27 Megawatts (MW)**, with only 42 towns and localities having basic electrical connections. - **1 July 1957:** The **Rajasthan State Electricity Board (RSEB)** was constituted under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 to spearhead generation, transmission, and rural electrification across the state. - **19 July 2000 (RSEB Unbundling):** Under the Rajasthan Power Sector Reforms Act, 1999, the monolithic RSEB was formally restructured into five independent state government corporations: 1. Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RVUNL) - Generation utility. 2. Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (RVPNL) - State Transmission Utility (STU). 3. Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL) - Distribution company covering eastern districts. 4. Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (AVVNL) - Distribution company covering central/southern districts. 5. Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JdVVNL) - Distribution company covering western districts. - **2015:** **Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (RUVNL)** was established to coordinate bulk power procurement, trading, and portfolio optimization for the three Discoms.Profile of Power Generation by Energy Sources
Rajasthan power basket comprises both conventional and non-conventional/renewable resources: 1. **Thermal Power:** Dominates the base-load generation capacity utilizing coal, lignite, and natural gas. 2. **Solar Energy:** Rajasthan holds the **Number 1 rank in India** in cumulative installed solar energy capacity. 3. **Wind Energy:** Western arid tracts (particularly Jaisalmer, Phalodi, and Barmer) host dense clusters of utility-scale wind farms. 4. **Hydroelectric Power:** Sourced primarily from the Chambal river complex, Mahi Bajaj Sagar, and interstate allocations from Bhakra-Beas systems. 5. **Nuclear Power:** Anchored at the Rawatbhata atomic power station (RAPS) in Chittorgarh district.2. Thermal Power Projects
Thermal power in Rajasthan is classified based on fuel types: Coal, Lignite (Brown Coal), and Natural Gas.
Major Coal-Based Super Thermal Power Stations
| Thermal Power Station | District & Location | Installed Capacity (MW) | Salient Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suratgarh Super Thermal Power Station (SSTPS) | Sri Ganganagar (Thukrana village) | 2820 MW | • Rajasthan first Super Thermal Power Station. • Celebrated as the Modern Pilgrimage of Development of Rajasthan. • Stage I-VI: 6 × 250 MW (sub-critical). • Stage VII-VIII: 2 × 660 MW (super-critical units). |
| Chhabra Super Critical Thermal Power Station | Baran (Chowki Motipura) | 2320 MW | • Phase 1: 4 × 250 MW (1000 MW). • Phase 2: 2 × 660 MW (1320 MW super-critical units). • Pioneer site for commercial commissioning of supercritical power units in RVUNL portfolio. |
| Kota Super Thermal Power Station (KSTPS) | Kota (Banks of Chambal River) | 1240 MW | • Rajasthan first major coal-fired power station (commissioned in Jan 1983). • 7 Units: 2×110 MW + 3×210 MW + 2×195 MW. • Multiple recipient of National Productivity Awards for exceptional Plant Load Factor (PLF). |
| Kalisindh Thermal Power Station | Jhalawar (Undal village) | 1200 MW | • 2 × 600 MW super-critical units. • Features one of Asia tallest natural draft cooling towers (NDCT). |
| Kawai Thermal Power Station | Baran (Adani Power) | 1320 MW | • Private sector mega power plant by Adani Power Rajasthan Ltd. • 2 × 660 MW super-critical technology. |
Lignite-Based Thermal Power Projects
Rajasthan is endowed with vast deposits of Tertiary Eocene lignite across Bikaner, Barmer, and Nagaur.
- Giral Lignite Thermal Power Station (Barmer - Thumbli village):
- Capacity: 250 MW (2 × 125 MW).
- Built with German KfW technical cooperation.
- India first commercial power plant employing Circulating Fluidised Bed Combustion (CFBC) technology to safely combust high-sulfur lignite.
- Barsingsar Lignite Power Station (Bikaner):
- Capacity: 250 MW (2 × 125 MW).
- Pit-head power station developed and operated by Central PSU NLC India Limited (formerly Neyveli Lignite Corporation).
- Kapurdi-Jalipa Thermal Project (Barmer):
- Capacity: 1080 MW (8 × 135 MW).
- Constructed by Raj WestPower Ltd (subsidiary of JSW Energy).
- Sourced directly from contiguous captive lignite open-cast mines of Kapurdi and Jalipa.
- Guda and Bithnok Lignite Projects (Bikaner):
- Additional pit-head lignite projects allocated for regional power needs.
Gas-Based Thermal Power Projects
| Plant | District | Capacity | Operator & Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anta Gas Power Station | Baran | 419.33 MW | • Operated by Central PSU NTPC. • Rajasthan first gas-based power plant (1989). • Receives gas through the Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) trunk pipeline. |
| Ramgarh Gas Thermal Power Station | Jaisalmer | 273.5 MW | • RVUNL first dedicated gas turbine facility (1994). • Fed directly by natural gas extracted from Jaisalmer basin fields (Tanot/Dandewala). |
| Dholpur Combined Cycle Gas Station | Dholpur | 330 MW | • 3 × 110 MW combined cycle configuration. • Utilizes water from Chambal river and gas from GAIL network. |
| Captive Gas Units | Jhamarkotra (Udaipur) | 4 MW | • Captive power facility catering to RSMML industrial phosphate milling. |
3. Hydroelectric Power Projects
Given arid climatic conditions, Rajasthan relies largely on interstate multipurpose river basin compacts for hydroelectric power.
Chambal Valley Hydroelectric Projects
The Chambal Project is a **50:50 joint venture between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh**. Three dams generate hydroelectricity:Chambal Valley Hydro Complex (Total: 386 MW; Rajasthan Share: 193 MW)
├── 1. Gandhi Sagar Dam (Mandsaur, MP): 115 MW (5 × 23 MW) ── Rajasthan Share: 57.5 MW
├── 2. Rana Pratap Sagar Dam (Rawatbhata, Chittorgarh): 172 MW (4 × 43 MW) ── Rajasthan Share: 86.0 MW
└── 3. Jawahar Sagar Dam (Kota-Bundi border): 99 MW (3 × 33 MW) ── Rajasthan Share: 49.5 MW
* Note: Kota Barrage is dedicated solely to canal irrigation with zero power generation.
- Rana Pratap Sagar Power House: The largest single hydroelectric generating station physically situated within Rajasthan territory.
Mahi Bajaj Sagar Hydroelectric Project (Banswara)
- Under the 1966 Rajasthan-Gujarat Interstate Agreement, while dam construction costs were apportioned with Gujarat for irrigation, **100 percent of all generated hydroelectricity belongs exclusively to Rajasthan**. - Total Installed Capacity: **140 MW** - Power House 1 (Mahi Main Dam): 2 × 25 MW = 50 MW - Power House 2 (Kagdi Pickup/Lilwani): 2 × 45 MW = 90 MW - Primary Beneficiary: Tribal belt of southern Rajasthan (Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh).Interstate Allocations and Small Hydro
- **Jakham Micro Hydel Plant (Pratapgarh):** 9 MW (2 × 4.5 MW) on Jakham dam. - **Bhakra Nangal Project (Satluj River):** Tripartite project with Punjab and Haryana; Rajasthan holds a **15.22 percent share** (approx. 227 MW). - **Beas Project:** - Dehar Power Plant (Beas-Satluj Link): Rajasthan share is **20 percent**. - Pong Power Plant (Beas Dam): Rajasthan share is **58.5 percent**. - **Rahughat Hydro Project (Karauli):** Proposed run-of-the-river project on the Chambal River.4. Nuclear Power (Nuclear Energy)
Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS / RAPP) - Rawatbhata (Chittorgarh)
- **Genesis:** Established as **India second nuclear power plant** (after Tarapur, Maharashtra) through bilateral technical collaboration with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). - **Location:** Situated along the Rana Pratap Sagar reservoir at Rawatbhata in Chittorgarh district. - **Reactor Technology:** Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR / CANDU model) utilizing natural uranium as fuel and heavy water (deuterium oxide - D2O) as moderator and coolant. - **Reactor Units Profile:** - **Unit 1 (100 MW):** Commissioned commercially on 16 December 1973 as India first operational PHWR. (Presently under permanent shutdown). - **Unit 2 (200 MW):** Commissioned in 1981, successfully finished by Indian nuclear scientists following Canadian withdrawal post-1974 Pokhran test. - **Units 3 & 4 (220 MW each):** Indigenous standard commercial PHWR design commissioned in 2000. - **Units 5 & 6 (220 MW each):** Advanced indigenous PHWRs operational since 2010. - **Units 7 & 8 (700 MW each = 1400 MW):** State-of-the-art indigenous 700 MW series PHWR reactors under construction. - **Heavy Water Plant:** Rawatbhata hosts an indigenous industrial Heavy Water Plant supplying deuterium oxide for national nuclear fleet reactors.Mahi Banswara Nuclear Power Project (Proposed)
- **Location:** Ghatol/Katumbee area along the Mahi reservoir in Banswara district. - **Capacity:** **2800 MW** (4 units × 700 MW indigenous PHWRs). - **Executing Agency:** **ASHVINI (Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd)**, a dedicated joint venture between NPCIL and NTPC.5. Solar Energy
Favourable Geographic Attributes
- Rajasthan receives over **325 sunny days annually** with solar insolation reaching **6.0 to 7.0 kWh/m²/day**. - The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) estimates the state solar power generation potential at **142 Gigawatts (GW)**. - **National Status:** Rajasthan leads India with over 20 GW of grid-connected operational solar installations, retaining the **Number 1 rank nationwide**.Major Ultra Mega Solar Parks
1. Bhadla Solar Park - Phalodi (formerly Jodhpur)
- **World largest operational solar park complex** with an aggregate capacity of **2245 MW**. - Developed across 14,000 acres of desert wasteland in four distinct phases: - **Phase I (75 MW):** Developed directly by RRECL. - **Phase II (680 MW):** Developed directly by RRECL. - **Phase III (1000 MW):** Developed by Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan Ltd (SURKL - 50:50 JV between RRECL and IL&FS). - **Phase IV (500 MW):** Developed by Adani Renewable Energy Park Rajasthan Ltd (AREPRL - 50:50 JV between RRECL and Adani Enterprises).2. Nokh Solar Park - Jaisalmer
- Capacity: **925 MW** - Developer: Executed by RRECL in Pokhran tehsil of Jaisalmer district.3. Fatehgarh Solar Complex - Jaisalmer
- Capacity: **1500 MW** - Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park (UMREPP) framework.4. Pugal Solar Park - Bikaner
- Capacity: **1450 MW** - Joint venture enterprise between RRECL and Coal India Limited (CIL).Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM)
| Component | Objective | Status in Rajasthan |
|---|---|---|
| Component-A | Setting up decentralized grid-connected solar power plants (0.5 MW to 2.0 MW) by farmers on barren/fallow land. | • First in India: Commissioned at Bhaloji village in Kotputli-Behror (former Jaipur) district with 1 MW capacity. |
| Component-B | Installation of standalone off-grid solar agricultural pumps up to 7.5 HP. | • Rajasthan achieved the Number 1 rank in the country for installing standalone solar pump sets. |
| Component-C | Solarization of existing grid-connected agricultural pumps (individual pump and feeder-level solarization). | • Aggressively implemented via dedicated agricultural feeders to ensure uninterrupted daytime irrigation power. |
6. Wind Energy
Natural Potential and Resource Mapping
- Persistent south-westerly desert wind flows provide steady kinetic energy for turbine generation. - The National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) assesses Rajasthan wind resource potential at **127.7 GW** at 120-metre hub height.Key Wind Farms and Historical Milestones
- **Amarsagar (Jaisalmer):** Commissioned on 10 April 1999 as Rajasthan **first wind power project** (2 MW capacity by RRECL). - **Devgarh (Pratapgarh):** State **second wind power project** commissioned on 6 March 2001. - **Phalodi (Jodhpur/Phalodi):** State **third wind power project** (2001). - **Bada Bagh (Jaisalmer):** State **first private sector wind farm** (by M/s Rajasthan Renewables). - **Other Major Wind Belts:** Sodha Bandhan, Aakal, Hansua, Pokhran (Jaisalmer), and Harsh Parvat (Sikar). - Due to the dense concentration of wind turbines, Jaisalmer is celebrated as the **City of Windmills**.7. Biomass and Bio-Energy
Feedstock Resources
- Agricultural residues like mustard husk (Rape-mustard stover), cotton stalks, rice husk, and invasive mesquite weed (Prosopis juliflora) serve as sustainable biofuels. - Prevents in-situ crop stubble burning while channeling supplemental revenue to agrarian communities.Key Biomass Plants
- **Padampur (Sri Ganganagar):** Rajasthan **first biomass power plant**, operating on mustard husk. - **Rangpur (Kota):** Rice/Paddy husk-fired biomass generation unit. - **Kotputli (Jaipur):** Mustard husk-fired biomass facility. - **Kherli (Alwar):** Mustard stalk-based unit. - **Balotra (Barmer):** Biomass unit using urban and agricultural woody waste. - **Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG):** Promoted under the SATAT framework and GOBAR-Dhan scheme using cattle dung and dairy wastes.8. Institutional and Regulatory Framework
Administrative Architecture of Rajasthan Power Sector
├── Department of Energy, Government of Rajasthan
├── 1. Generation: RVUNL (Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd)
├── 2. Transmission: RVPNL (Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd - STU)
├── 3. Distribution: JVVNL (Jaipur), AVVNL (Ajmer), JdVVNL (Jodhpur)
├── 4. Power Trading & Bulk Purchase: RUVNL (Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd)
├── 5. Renewable Energy State Nodal Agency: RRECL
└── 6. Regulatory Commission: RERC (Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission)