Consider the following statements:

1. Gujarat has the largest solar park in India.
2. Kerala has a fully solar powered International Airport.
3. Goa has the largest floating solar photovoltaic project in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3

(d) 3 only

Answer: (b)        

Explanation:

• As of November 30, 2021, India’s installed renewable energy capacity is 150.54 GW, with solar contributing 48.55 GW, wind contributing 40.03 GW, small hydro power contributing 4.83 GW, bio-power contributing 10.62 GW, and large hydro contributing 46.51 GW. In comparison, the country’s nuclear energy-based installed electricity capacity stands at 6.78 GW.
• India ranks fourth in the world for wind power capacity.
• The total non-fossil-based installed energy capacity is 157.32 GW, which accounts for 40.1% of the total installed electricity capacity of 392.01 GW.
• India’s Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan is the largest solar power park in the world. Statement 1 is incorrect.
• Statement 2 is correct in that Kerala’s Cochin International Airport Ltd is the first airport in the world to operate entirely on solar power.
• Statement 3 is not correct because Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, M K Stalin, inaugurated India’s largest floating solar power plant constructed at a cost of Rs 150.4 crores.
• The floating plant is established in Southern Petrochemicals Industries Corporation Limited (SPIC) factory at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu and aims to provide clean energy, sustainable power generation, and reduce carbon footprint.