Jharkhand Aims to Establish 1,000 Solar Villages.

Despite its significant economic reliance on coal, the state of Jharkhand is charting a course towards renewable energy with a plan to develop 1,000 'solar villages'. This initiative is part of a larger state-wide target to build 4 GW of solar capacity by 2027.

An official from the Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA) revealed the plan at a recent workshop for journalists in Ranchi, organized by the Earth Journalism Network. The official stated that the goal is to establish villages where households will be predominantly powered by solar energy. These 1,000 solar villages are expected to contribute approximately 400 MW to the state's total solar capacity.

Jharkhand faces a unique challenge in transitioning from fossil fuels, as roughly one-third of its government revenues are derived from coal or related activities. The state has 18 'coal' districts, a significantly higher number compared to other coal-rich states like Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Odisha, which have around 3-4 each. This deep economic embeddedness with coal makes the shift towards cleaner energy sources a complex imperative for the state government.

Nevertheless, the development of 4 GW of solar power by 2027 remains a key objective outlined in the state's energy strategy, with the 'solar villages' project forming a significant component of this ambitious target.