suparjya swain 
JAIPUR: In a major step towards India’s green energy transition, NLC India Renewables Limited (NIRL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NLC India Limited (NLCIL), has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for an 810 MW solar power project at the Pugal Solar Park in Rajasthan. This marks NIRL’s largest solar initiative to date and is expected to significantly bolster the country’s renewable energy capacity.
The PPA was formalized at a ceremonial event in Jaipur in the presence of top government and company officials. Notable attendees included Smt. Arti Dogra, IAS, Chairperson and Managing Director of Rajasthan DISCOMs and Secretary (Energy), Government of Rajasthan (Additional Charge), Shri Nathmal Didel, IAS, Managing Director of Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited, Shri Devendra Shringi, CMD of Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RVUNL), and Shri Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, CMD of NLCIL and Chairman of NIRL.
The 810 MW solar power project will be developed on barren land in the Bikaner district, a region known for its high solar radiation. It is part of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park (UMREPP) Scheme – Mode B. The project was awarded to NIRL through a competitive tariff-based bidding process conducted by RVUNL.
“This 810 MW project is a jewel in the crown of NLCIL’s renewable portfolio,” said Shri Prasanna Kumar Motupalli at the signing event. “The signing of the PPA marks a pivotal moment for NLCIL and reaffirms our commitment to clean and sustainable energy. We are proud to collaborate with RVUNL and the State of Rajasthan in this transformative effort.”
The project is expected to generate around 2 billion units of green electricity annually, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 1.5 million metric tonnes each year. It will be built within the infrastructure of the larger 2,000 MW Pugal Solar Park currently being developed by RVUNL.
NLCIL, a Navratna Central Public Sector Undertaking, has been a pioneer among CPSUs in renewable energy. It was the first to establish 1 GW of renewable capacity in India and is aggressively pursuing further expansion. The Pugal project is a major addition to NLCIL’s renewable energy portfolio and supports its broader goal of achieving 10 GW of renewable capacity by 2030—aligned with India’s target of reaching 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based capacity by the same year.
Beyond the solar initiative, NLCIL is also exploring the development of up to 2,000 MW of additional renewable projects and three 125 MW lignite-based thermal power units in Rajasthan through joint ventures. The company’s longstanding partnership with Rajasthan, dating back to the early 2000s, continues to deepen through mutual collaboration in energy development.
This new venture further cements Rajasthan’s status as a key hub in India’s renewable energy landscape and reinforces NLCIL’s role in powering India’s sustainable future.
