Rajasthan Natural and Energy Resources - RPSC Preparation All subjects

Development of Power Resources in Rajasthan

• Development of power resources is essential for the progress of any region. In Rajasthan, power resources play a crucial role in the modernization of agriculture, industry, and the economy.
• Historically, Rajasthan has faced power shortages. However, the discovery of petroleum, natural gas reserves in western Rajasthan, and the vast potential for solar power have brought optimism for transforming Rajasthan into a state with surplus power.
• At the time of India's independence, Rajasthan had only 42 electrified towns and villages with a meager installed capacity of 13.27 MW. The establishment of the Rajasthan State Electricity Board (RSEB) on July 1, 1957, marked a turning point, leading to the proliferation of power projects across the state.
• Originally, the Rajasthan State Electricity Board (RSEB) handled all aspects of electricity-generation, transmission, and distribution. Post-July 19, 2000, the RSEB underwent restructuring, dividing into five distinct companies to enhance infrastructure and delineate the functions of generation, transmission, and distribution.

Electricity Generation, Transmission, and Distribution in Rajasthan

• Electricity Generation:
  • Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd. (RVUNL) is responsible for generating electricity in Rajasthan.
• Electricity Transmission:
  • Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd. (RVPN) handles the transmission of bulk power from generating stations to distribution companies' inter-phase points.
• Electricity Distribution:
  • Rajasthan's distribution is managed by three region-based companies:
    • Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (JVVNL)
    • Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (AVVNL)
    • Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (JdVVNL)

Power Resources of Rajasthan

• Power Generation
  • Rajasthan's power generation capacity involves both conventional (thermal, gas, hydel, nuclear) and renewable (solar, wind, biomass) sources.
• Power Transmission
  • Power transmission is crucial in moving electricity from generation points to distribution networks efficiently.
• Power Distribution Organisations
  • Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd. (RRECL)
  • Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC)
  • Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RUVNL)

Power Generation Capacity Classification

Rajasthan's installed power capacity stood at 21,835.90 MW (approximately 21.8 GW) as of December 2020, as per the Economic Review of Rajasthan 2020-21.

Classification of Power Generation Sources

The sources of power generation are categorized into two primary groups:

• Conventional & Non-Conventional Sources:
  • Conventional Sources: Include coal, gas, hydro, and nuclear power.
  • Non-Conventional Sources: Comprise solar, wind, and biomass energy.
• Non-Renewable & Renewable:
  • Non-Renewable: Coal, Gas, Nuclear
  • Renewable: Solar, Wind, Hydro, Biomass

1. Thermal Power Resources of Rajasthan

• Thermal power plants in Rajasthan use coal as fuel for electricity generation. However, the state has limited and poor-quality coal resources. The coal found in Rajasthan is mainly lignite from the tertiary era, which has high sulfur content and low carbon percentage (30-35%). 
• Due to its low quality, lignite is not economically viable for power generation. As a result, most power plants in Rajasthan import coal from other regions.

Thermal Power plants of Rajasthan

Important Facts

• Chhabra Thermal Power Plant:
  • Operationalized Super critical technology-based Unit 5 & 6 in June 2019, with an overall capacity of 2320 MW. It is the first power plant in Rajasthan to utilize this advanced technique.
• Future Plans:
• Three projects totaling 2,800 MW are currently underway:
  • Chhabra Thermal Power Project - 2X660MW
  • Suratgarh Thermal Power Project - 2X660 MW
  • Ramgarh Gas Thermal Project
• The 660 MW Suratgarh Thermal Power Project Unit No. 8 is in progress and expected to be operational by April 2021.

2. Oil & Natural Gas Power Resources in Rajasthan

Recently, significant oil and natural gas reservoirs have been unearthed in the western region of Rajasthan.
Gas power plants of Rajasthan:

• Dholpur Combined Cycle Power Station: 330 MW (2×110 MW Gas Turbine, 1×110 MW Steam Turbine). - RVUNL
• Ramgarh Gas Thermal Power Station: 430 MW (1×35.5 MW GT, 1×37.5 MW GT, 1×37.5 MW ST, 1×110 MW GT,1×50 MW ST are running) whereas 1×160 MW(110 MW GT + 50 MW ST) is under planning stage. - RVUNL

3. Hydro Power Resources of Rajasthan

Rajasthan possesses significant hydro power resources, primarily in the form of various dams and projects. These resources contribute to the state's electricity generation capacity.

• Chambal Valley Project:
  • Rana Pratap Sagar Dam - Generating 172 MW (4x43 MW)
  • Jawahar Sagar Dam - Generating 99 MW (3x33 MW)
• Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam:
  • Generating 140 MW (2x25 MW, 2x45 MW) under RVUNL

4. Nuclear Power Sources of Rajasthan

The state also hosts nuclear power sources, adding to its energy mix and contributing significantly to the electricity grid.

• Rajasthan Atomic Power Station, Rawatbhata - Generating 1180 MW

5. Solar Energy Resources of Rajasthan

• Rajasthan stands out as a prominent region for solar energy harnessing, leveraging its abundant sunlight and vast open spaces. The state's solar potential is immense, making it a key player in India's solar energy landscape.
• With approximately 300-330 clear sunny days annually, akin to regions in the U.S. like California and Arizona, Rajasthan boasts districts such as Barmer, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur as prime locations with optimal solar radiation levels.
• The state benefits from a high solar radiation level of 6-7 kWh/m2/day and expansive, flat terrains ideal for solar power projects. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Rajasthan has the capacity to generate up to 142 GW of electricity from solar energy.
• As of December 2020, Rajasthan has already commissioned solar power plants with a total capacity of 5,002 MW, showcasing its commitment to renewable energy adoption.

List of Solar Parks in Rajasthan
Rajasthan boasts several significant solar parks and projects, contributing substantially to the state's renewable energy profile:

• Bhadla Solar Park - Phase I-IV (Total 2245 MW)
• Phalodi-Pokaran Solar Park (750 MW)
• Fatehgarh Phase-IB Solar Park (1500 MW)
• Nokh Solar Park (980 MW)
• These solar parks and projects align with Rajasthan's commitment to solar energy development as outlined in the Rajasthan Solar Energy Development Policy of 2019.

6. Wind Energy Resources in Rajasthan

• Rajasthan stands as a frontrunner in harnessing wind energy, with a significant potential estimated at 18,770 MW. The state has already commissioned 4,337.65 MW of wind power capacity by December 2020. Notably, the Rajasthan Wind and Hybrid Energy Policy 2019 supports further growth in this sector.

7. Biomass Energy in Rajasthan

• The primary sources of biomass energy in Rajasthan are mustard husk and Julie flora. To encourage investments in this sector, the State Government introduced the 'Policy for Promoting Generation of Electricity from Biomass 2010.'
• By December 2020, a total of 13 biomass power generation plants with a combined capacity of 120.45 MW had been established in the state. Currently, two more biomass power plants with a total capacity of 14 MW are under construction.