Overview
Shinawad is a 5 MW operational solar PV facility in India, contributing to the country's renewable energy capacity under national solar targets.
Shinawad is an operational solar photovoltaic (PV) facility located in India, with a capacity of 5 megawatts (MW). This scale places it among small-to-medium solar installations typical of distributed generation projects that support local grid needs. The plant is part of India's rapidly expanding solar energy sector, which has grown significantly under national policies like the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. The facility uses solar PV technology to convert sunlight into electricity, with no reported energy storage. India's solar sector benefits from a strong regulatory framework, including renewable purchase obligations (RPOs) and competitive bidding for utility-scale projects. The 5 MW capacity suggests a ground-mounted or rooftop installation, common for commercial or community-scale generation. Environmentally, solar PV plants like Shinawad have low operational emissions but require land for panel arrays. In India's semi-arid regions, such installations can help reduce water usage compared to thermal power plants. The facility's electricity feeds into the local grid, supporting India's goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
Environmental context
Solar PV installations in India, particularly in states like Gujarat and Rajasthan, often occupy arid or semi-arid land with high solar irradiance. While land use is a consideration, solar farms can coexist with agriculture through agrivoltaics. The region around Shinawad experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, making solar generation consistent during dry months. Grid integration of solar power requires balancing with other sources due to intermittency.
Frequently asked questions
The Shinawad solar PV plant is located in India, with coordinates approximately 23.4970° N, 73.4235° E, likely in the state of Gujarat or Rajasthan.
The Shinawad solar plant has a capacity of 5 megawatts (MW), making it a small-to-medium scale solar photovoltaic facility.
The Shinawad plant uses solar photovoltaic (PV) technology to convert sunlight directly into electricity.
India regulates solar energy through the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, renewable purchase obligations (RPOs), and competitive bidding processes. The country aims for 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
Solar PV plants reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption compared to fossil fuel plants. They also support energy independence and can be deployed on degraded land, minimizing land-use conflicts.