CSP World

According to the Indian news website 'Economic Times', India's Government plans 4 GW of solar thermal capacity in the state of Rajasthan.

"We have discussed the plan with the Rajasthan government and we aim to set up a solar thermal capacity near the Sambhar salt lake in Jaipur," said Farooq Abdullah, union minister for new and renewable energy. "It will be commissioned in phases. The first phase would be of 1,000 MW", added Abdullah.

Despite this new announcement, India's CSP promoters are struggling to develop the first 500 MW of CSP included in the National Solar Mission (JNNSM). All the projects, except one, missed the deadline last May and were facing penalties that were finally avoided and the deadline was extended. Furthermore, this dealys in the first large-scale development of CSP have cause to further delay next phase of CSP, including a decrease for previously expected power to be deployed in favor of PV projects.

However, the story doesn't tell if all of 4 GW would be for electricity generation, India is fostering the deployment of Concentrated Solar Thermal systems for process heat, cooking, heating and cooling. Anyway, such a deployment looks like more a statement of intent than a specifi plan.

The only solar park in the country is based in Gujarat with a current capaity of 214 MW and is expected to reach 500 MW when fully commissioned in 2014. The park however comprises only PV systems.