Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan: A Guide on The Capacity, Benefits, and Technologies Used in India’s Largest Solar Park

Bhadla Solar Park is India’s largest solar power plant, which was announced in 2015 and completed in four development phases. The solar plant has a capacity of 2.245 GW, with approximately 1 crore solar panels generating around 7,32,874 MWh of electricity annually. This massive solar power plant is situated in the Bhadla village of the Jodhpur district in Rajasthan, spanning 14,000 acres of land in the middle of the Thar Desert.

The Bhadla solar plant is an important achievement for the Indian government for multiple reasons: 

• It brings India closer to its target of reaching 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030: India promised to achieve this target as part of the Paris Agreement in 2015, and the success of the Bhadla solar plant in India’s hottest desert has taken the government a step closer to achieving its target. 
• Bhadla Solar Park produces approximately 7,32,874 MWh of electricity every year: The solar electricity generated by this massive photovoltaic power plant is sold to the National grid and is sufficient to power four and a half million households annually at rates significantly cheaper than the expensive grid electricity that comes from fossil fuels.
• It creates significant employment opportunities: The Bhadla Solar Park has been installed on a massive scale, creating employment for hundreds of thousands of people involved in the construction and maintenance of this power plant.

In this blog, we will walk you through the significance of India’s largest solar power plant, the Bhadla Solar Park, for the Indian government. We will discuss the key solar technologies used to build this solar plant, its four development phases, and the cleaning challenges faced by this power plant. 

At the end, we will also include a bonus section on the benefits of installing on-grid rooftop solar panel systems for homes, housing societies, and commercial complexes, covering the multiple advantages of going solar, the associated investment, and the potential returns.

TL;DR Summary Box: How Many Solar Panels are in Bhadla Solar Park?

10 million or 1 crore solar panels have been installed in the Bhadla Solar Park to enable the power plant to achieve its massive capacity of 2,245 MW. The entire solar park spans approximately 5,700 hectares, or 14,000 acres, of land. 

Here are the main topics covered in this blog in detail:

Where is the Largest Solar Power Project Situated in India?

The largest solar park in India is the Bhadla Solar Park, located in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. It’s in the middle of India’s mighty Thar desert, where temperatures can exceed 50°C in summer.

Here are the exact location specifics of the Bhadla Solar Park in India:

Overview of the Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan: Is Bhadla Still the Largest Solar Park in India in 2025?

The Bhadla solar plant remains India’s largest solar power plant in 2025, boasting a staggering capacity of 2,245 MW. It’s also confused as the largest solar park in the world; however, that’s not true. 

The largest solar power plant in the world is the Talatan Solar Park, with a capacity of 15,600 MW, situated in China. While not the largest solar power plant in the world, the confusion arises because Bhadla is indeed the world’s largest solar power plant at a single location. 

The Bhadla solar plant was developed in four phases, and the entire power plant is spread across 14,000 acres of land. The park is jointly owned by Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited (RRECL) and a group of developers who installed the project in four phases. 

Here are the key features of the Bhadla Solar Park that make it a very important milestone for India:

What Are the Four Development Phases of the Bhadla Solar Plant?

The first two phases of one of India’s biggest solar power plants were executed by Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited (RSPDCL). Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan executed the third phase, and Adani Renewable Energy Park executed the fourth and final phase. 

Here’s a snapshot of the key details of all four development phases of the Bhadla solar plant: 

Let’s check out the details of all four development phases.

Phase 1 of the Bhadla Solar Park

The first phase of the Bhadla Solar Park was executed by Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited (RRECL). Commissioned in October 2015, this phase added 65 MW of installed solar power capacity to the park. 

Here are the key details of phase 1 of the Bhadla solar plant:

Phase 2 of the Bhadla Solar Park

This phase was built by the Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Ltd. (RSPDCL), which also handled the first phase of the park. It added around 680 megawatts of capacity, divided into 10 plots of about 70 megawatts each, connected through two pooling stations. 

Most of the projects in this phase were completed between 2017 and 2018. Some of these projects were part of NTPC’s solar program under the JNNSM Phase-II scheme.

Here are the key details of phase 2 of the Bhadla solar plant:

Phase 3 of the Bhadla Solar Park

Phase 3 expanded the Bhadla Solar Park by an additional 1,000 MW and was led by Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan Ltd. (SUCRL), a joint venture between the Rajasthan government and IL&FS Energy.

• In May 2017, SECI auctioned 500 MW from this phase.
• The auction set a record low solar tariff of Rs. 2.44 per unit.
• ACME won 200 MW, while SoftBank’s SBG secured 300 MW.
• Most projects were completed between 2018 and 2019.

Here are the key details of phase 3 of the Bhadla solar plant:

Phase 4 of the Bhadla Solar Park

Phase 4 added about 500 MW of solar capacity and was developed by Adani Renewable Energy Park Rajasthan Ltd. (AREPRL).

• SECI held an auction on May 9, 2017, for 250 MW under this phase.
• The lowest tariff discovered was Rs. 2.62 per unit.
• Overall, Phase 4 contributed nearly 500 MW under AREPRL’s development.

Here are the key details of phase 4 of the Bhadla solar plant:

How is the Bhadla Solar Park Cleaned?

Running a solar park as large as Bhadla in the middle of the Thar Desert comes with two constant problems: 

• There’s hardly any water for cleaning the solar panels. 
• There’s far too much dust from sandstorms, which are a regular occurrence in deserts.

With no rain to rinse the panels and sandstorms blowing dust regularly, the solar panels in Bhadla Solar Park quickly get soiled on a daily basis. If not cleaned, this layer of dust, known as soiling, can substantially reduce electricity output. 

To tackle these challenges, Bhadla relies on almost 2,000 water-free cleaning robots. These machines are built to handle the desert environment without wasting water.

Here’s how solar panels are cleaned in the Bhadla Solar Park using the Ecoppia robots:

• Nightly cleaning routine: Ecoppia robots sweep dust off panels every night, using soft microfiber brushes that don’t scratch the glass.
• No extra resources are needed: The robots operate without consuming water or electricity.
• Smart controls: All units are linked to a cloud system. This allows operators to schedule cleanings and track performance remotely.
• Storm recovery: After a heavy dust storm, the robots can clean and restore power output within hours, rather than days.
• Large-scale deployment: In Phases 3 and 4, SB Energy alone placed more than 2,000 robots across five sites. 

Which are the Primary Solar Technologies Used in the Bhadla Solar Plant?

The Bhadla Solar Park uses high-efficiency PV panels, solar tracking systems, robotic cleaning technology, smart grid controls, and weather monitoring tools to ensure the solar power plant operates at its maximum efficiency. 

Let’s learn a bit about all these solar technologies used at the Bhadla solar plant:

• High-efficiency PV panels: Bhadla uses advanced solar panels made of silicon cells, specifically designed to withstand desert heat. Many of these are bifacial solar panels, which capture sunlight from both the front and the back
• Dual-axis solar trackers: Instead of remaining fixed, a large share of panels are mounted on dual-axis tracking systems. These automatically follow the sun throughout the day, increasing energy capture by 40-60% compared with fixed solar panels.
• Robotic cleaning systems: To tackle the constant dust problem in the Thar Desert, more than 2,000 automated robots are used to clean the panels every night. They operate independently, are remotely managed, and can restore efficiency within hours after storms. 
• Smart grid and SCADA integration: Advanced SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems connect the park to India’s national grid. This allows operators to monitor performance in real time and detect faults quickly.
• Weather forecasting: Satellite-based weather monitoring helps operators prepare for dust storms or cloudy conditions. 
• Transmission and grid infrastructure: The electricity generated at Bhadla Solar Park is carried through 765 kV and 400 kV double-circuit transmission lines. Multiple substations at 765/400/220 kV levels ensure smooth integration into the national grid.

Why is the Bhadla Solar Plant Important for India?

By adding 2,245 MW of solar capacity in one location, Bhadla has played a big role in helping India become the world’s third-largest solar power producer in 2025. The park is also a symbol of how India is turning its climate commitments into reality, achieving the COP26 target of 50% non-fossil power capacity five years ahead of schedule.

Let’s check out how Bhadla Solar Park has become a milestone solar achievement for India’s solar energy targets and promises:

• It helped India beat big milestones early: India pledged to reach 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030. Bhadla Solar Park proves how large solar parks can help achieve targets quickly. Its success has allowed India to cross the milestone of 50% renewable power in the total installed capacity five years ahead of the COP26 deadline.
• It shows how Rajasthan’s deserts can power the country: Rajasthan is among the states with the highest solar radiation levels in India, and the Bhadla solar plant proves that installing solar parks in deserts is practical and beneficial. 
• It pushed solar prices way down: Auctions in Bhadla phases broke records for the lowest solar tariffs in India, as low as Rs. 2.44/kWh in Phase 3. These prices helped bring down the overall cost of solar power nationwide.
• It cuts the need for imported fuels: By generating vast amounts of clean power, the Bhadla solar plant reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels. This directly supports India’s energy security and curbs coal usage and carbon emissions.
• It became the model for future solar parks: The government’s Solar Parks Scheme aims for 40 GW of capacity. And since Bhadla has been a huge success in the middle of a desert, it’s the poster boy of how ultra-mega solar projects across the country can become successful.
• It created jobs and local opportunities: Building and running a solar park of this size generated thousands of jobs, strengthening the economy.
• It tackles the problem of rising air pollution: A 2,245 MW capacity is equivalent to planting 88,004,000 full-grown trees that can offset 58,082,640,000 kg of carbon dioxide from the air in 25 years. 

What Are the Benefits of Installing On-Grid Rooftop Solar Systems at Homes?

The financial impact that an on-grid rooftop solar system has on the life of a homeowner is no less significant than the financial benefits a large solar power plant offers to consumers who purchase solar electricity at lower rates from the government. We’re not kidding! Installing an on-grid solar system can reduce your electricity bills by 90% or more, save tens of lakhs of rupees, and offer complete energy independence. 

Let’s understand why installing solar at home is just as beneficial and necessary for India’s dream of becoming self-reliant: 

• Your electricity bills get reduced by 90% or more: An appropriately-sized on-grid solar system can produce enough electricity to take care of all your energy needs without falling back on the grid. This reduces the electricity bills by 90%. Many customers eventually receive zero bills after they install solar systems.
• It’s the most affordable solar system for homes: On-grid solar systems do not require expensive lithium batteries to store excess solar energy generated by the panels during the day, unlike off-grid solar systems and hybrid solar systems. Hence, on-grid systems are the most cost-effective options for residential and commercial installations.
• The government offers a subsidy, making solar installation cheaper: Homeowners and housing societies receive a subsidy under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana only for installing on-grid rooftop solar systems. You won’t be able to take advantage of this subsidy and go solar at cheaper rates if you install off-grid solar systems, ground-mounted solar systems, or commercial rooftop systems.
• Your carbon footprint is greatly reduced: Even if you install a 50 kW solar system in your society, it will be equivalent to planting 1,960 full-grown trees that can offset 12,93,600 kg of carbon dioxide from the air. Can you imagine the condition of air quality in your city if all homes and housing societies went solar? Think about it!
• You save tens of lakhs of rupees: Not paying electricity bills is a trademark saving in itself. The financial returns become even more lucrative because grid electricity gets costlier by 3-6% every year. When you install rooftop solar at home, you’re saving all the money you would have otherwise spent on paying hefty electricity bills. 

Here’s a comparison table that gives you an idea about the money you will spend for installing a 5 kW solar system at your home in India and the money that that solar system will save for you in 25 years of its life:

*Please note: The 5 kW solar panel price in India with subsidy mentioned above is indicative as of 26th September 2025 for the SolarSquare Blue 6ft variant. The actual solar plate price depends on your DISCOM charges, city, product variant opted for, panel type, inverter type, mounting structure height, type of after-sales service, savings guarantee, roof height, etc. Prices are subject to change. Additionally, when calculating savings, we have considered an annual tariff escalation of 3% and an annual degradation of 1%. The actual final savings from a 5 kW solar system depends on the types of solar panels you’ve installed and their efficiency, intensity of sunlight your rooftop receives, orientation of the panels and tilt angle, the pollution level and weather conditions in your city, the temperature, shadow on the roof, impact of dirt/dust, and how well you maintain your panels after installation.

Eager to find out the cost of installing a rooftop solar system that will be able to support all your energy requirements and the savings that it will offer in its 25-year lifespan? Use SolarSquare’s free solar panel calculator to get an estimate now.

Conclusion

The Bhadla Solar Park is India’s largest solar power plant with a capacity of 2,245 MW. This power plant alone installs 10 million solar panels across 14,000 acres of land to produce roughly 7,32,874 MWh of electricity every year, enough to power 4.5 million homes annually. 

If you’re someone who’s exploring how solar energy can benefit you and whether you should install a rooftop solar system at your place, book a free solar consultation call with SolarSquare today.

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FAQs

Q1. Which is the world’s largest solar park?

Ans. Talatan Solar Park is the largest solar power plant in the world with a capacity of 15,600 MW. It’s situated in China.

Q2. Is Bhadla Solar Park profitable?

Ans. Yes, Bhadla is profitable because it produces power at very low tariffs and runs on proven technologies that improve efficiency.

Q3. What is the global impact of the Bhadla solar plant?

Ans. Bhadla Solar Park shows the world that building large solar plants in desert conditions is possible. At 2,245 MW, it demonstrates that solar energy can be produced on a mass scale and at very low cost, which encourages other countries to follow a similar path. The park also offsets millions of tonnes of carbon emissions annually, contributing to the fight against climate change.

Q4. Is Bhadla Solar Park the largest in the world?

Ans. While Bhala is the world’s largest solar power plant at a single location, it’s not the largest power plant as a whole. The largest solar power plant is situated in China, with a capacity of 15,600 MW.

Q5. How much electricity does Bhadla Solar Park produce?

Ans. The Bhadla Solar Park roughly generates 7,32,874 MWh of electricity every year, which is sent to India’s National grid to be sold to customers at extremely cheap rates.

Q6. What is one of the key benefits of the Bhadla Solar Park?

Ans. The most significant benefit of Bhadla Solar Park is how it has dramatically reduced the solar energy cost in India. It has made renewable energy economically lucrative when compared with expensive electricity that comes from fossil fuels.

Q7. What are the disadvantages of the Bhadla Solar Park?

Ans. The biggest limitations or challenges faced by Bhadla Solar Park are water scarcity, which makes cleaning panels tough, and frequent sandstorms, which make regular cleaning a necessity. However, these issues have already been tackled by deploying over 2,000 Ecoppia robots that sweep dust off panels every night without using water, using soft microfiber brushes.