(a) whether large land requirement remains a limiting factor for setting up of Solar Power
Plants;
(b) if so, whether the Government proposes to utilize vast degraded areas left over by
abandoned mines in Jharkhand and adjoining States for solar power plants; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER FOR NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (DR. FAROOQ ABDULLAH)
(a): The setting up of Solar Power Plants requires open shadow free land/ space of around
6-10 sq. m. per kW (for small, kW-scale plants) and around 2-3 ha/MW (for large, MW-scale plants)
depending upon geographical location and technology used. The space requirement may not pose a
problem in case of small capacity/ SPV roof-top plants or in areas where considerable desert/
barren/ waste land is available but could be a limiting factor for setting up large capacity
plants in areas where availability of large areas of waste-land is limited.
(b): The Ministry has not received any such proposal from the Government of Jharkhand or its
adjoining States.
(c): Does not arise.