Rajasthan becomes first state to sign clean energy framework with ISA
Jaipur, July 8
Rajasthan has become the first state in the country to sign the "Framework for Action - Advanced Clean Energy, Driven Sustainable Development" with the International Solar Alliance, a coalition of 128 countries promoting solar energy.
The agreement, signed in the presence of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, aims to accelerate the state's transition to clean energy through a comprehensive strategy covering solar power generation, transmission, storage and distribution.
The framework was signed by Energy Secretary Aarti Dogra and ISA Director General Ashish Khanna at the Chief Minister's residence in Jaipur.
Describing the agreement as a milestone, Chief Minister Sharma said the partnership would strengthen Rajasthan's position as India's leading renewable energy state while helping ensure affordable, reliable and high-quality electricity for consumers.
He said the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making solar energy a global movement through the International Solar Alliance.
The Chief Minister said Rajasthan's favourable geographical conditions have enabled it to emerge as the country's largest producer of solar energy.
The state currently has an installed solar power capacity of more than 42 GW, the highest in India, while its total clean energy capacity has reached nearly 48 GW.
Under the Rajasthan Integrated Clean Energy Policy, the government has set an ambitious target of achieving 125 GW of clean energy capacity in the coming years.
He added that the agreement would support better integration of renewable energy into the power grid through investments in energy storage, smart grids, digitalisation and demand-side management.
The state is also strengthening its transmission and distribution infrastructure to improve grid stability and facilitate the large-scale integration of renewable energy.
Highlighting the benefits for the agriculture sector, Sharma said that under the PM-KUSUM Scheme, more than 4 GW of solar capacity is already supplying daytime electricity to farmers across 26 districts, reducing dependence on conventional power sources.
Minister of State for Energy (Independent Charge) Hiralal Nagar said the agreement would introduce artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions to modernise electricity services.
He said AI would help improve power distribution, planning and consumer services while strengthening the state's energy infrastructure.
According to the state government, the framework will guide Rajasthan's energy transition plan for the 2030-35 period.
It will focus on renewable energy expansion, grid modernisation, transmission upgrades, energy storage, energy efficiency, demand management, institutional capacity building and policy reforms.
One of the key initiatives under the partnership will be an AI-enabled digital twin pilot project at Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam.
The technology will enable accurate electricity demand forecasting, better network planning, efficient integration of renewable energy and improved reliability of power supply.
The collaboration will also provide engineers and government officials access to international training, technical expertise and knowledge-sharing programmes through the ISA.
ISA Director General Ashish Khanna said Rajasthan is the first Indian state to sign such a framework with the alliance, describing it as a model for other states pursuing clean energy transitions.
During a review meeting of the Energy Department, Chief Minister Sharma also directed officials to accelerate the implementation of the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana and asked the Chief Secretary to regularly monitor the scheme to ensure timely achievement of targets and faster adoption of rooftop solar systems across the state.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some good news! Rajasthan leading the way in solar energy is no surprise given the abundant sunlight. But I have a concern: what about the water usage for cleaning solar panels? In a drought-prone state like Rajasthan, this could be a challenge. Hopefully, they've planned for that.
As someone working in the power sector, I can say this is a well-thought-out move. The AI-based digital twin project at Ajmer is especially interesting—it could revolutionize grid management. But the real test will be implementation on the ground. Hoping to see faster progress on PM-KUSUM as well, farmers need reliable power. Good step overall! 👏
Impressive that Rajasthan is the first state to sign such a framework! As someone from the US, I'm always amazed by India's renewable energy push. 42 GW of solar capacity is huge. But I wonder if they have enough storage infrastructure for non-sunny hours. Battery storage should be a priority.
While this is great for renewable energy, I hope the government doesn't forget about the common man. Rooftop solar schemes like PM Surya Ghar should be made simpler and more accessible. Many people in my locality still face paperwork issues. Also, why is the focus only on Rajasthan? Other states like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have similar potential!
Good to see India taking leadership in solar energy through ISA. Rajasthan's 125 GW target by 2030-35 is ambitious but achievable. As an environmental scientist, I'm particularly glad to see energy storage and smart grids included. However, let's not ignore the environmental impact of
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.