AHMEDABAD: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi encourages competition among states, his home state Gujarat is likely to lose its position as the top solar power producing state. It is facing tough competition from states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh which are fast catching up.Gujarat is currently the top solar power generating state with commissioned capacity of 929MW out of the country’s total capacity of 3,002.66MW. Close on heels of Gujarat is Rajasthan with 839.5MW followed by Madhya Pradesh (353.58MW), Maharashtra (286.9MW) and Andhra Pradesh (234.86MW).There is intense competition among states for solar power generation. Apart from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are aggressively coming out with schemes to promote solar power generation.In the last couple of years there has been no significant addition to the solar power generation in Gujarat, sources in the state government said. Another indication of the lack of enthusiasm among solar power developers with regard to Gujarat was that, at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2015, only one investment proposal for solar power generation was signed and that too by Ahmedabad-based Torrent Power Ltd which signed agreement for setting up 51MW of solar power project in the state.However, in the past few years Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have become very aggressive in marketing their states as the next destination. They have come out with solar policies and incentives for those setting up units there.In addition, the major draw to these states is the availability of land at cheaper rates. Land prices are higher in Gujarat compared to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, said industry sources.They are of the view that Rajasthan may race ahead of Gujarat within a period of six months to one year.The solar power capacity in Gujarat is low, said government sources, because it is already a power surplus state, while Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are power deficit up to a certain extent.According to the ministry of new and renewable energy, Rajasthan, MP and Andhra Pradesh have more projects in pipeline than Gujarat. Rajasthan recently signed agreements with US-based Sun Edision and Azure Power India Pvt Ltd for generation of 1,000MW each in the next two years.“Now there is need for a revised policy in Gujarat especially in view of the significant developments at the national level. The industry is awaiting new policy from Gujarat with baited breath,” said Pranav Mehta, chairman of National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI). Gujarat government had announced its solar policy in 2009.Adani, Rajasthan govt ink pact to set up India’s largest solar parkAhmedabad: In what could give a major boost to the solar power generation not only to Rajasthan but to the entire country, Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL), the flagship company of Adani Group on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Rajasthan to set up a 10,000MW solar power park in the neighbouring state. This will be India’s largest solar park.As per the agreement, billionaire Gautam Adani-controlled AEL and Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd (RREC) will form a joint venture to set up the solar park, which will include generation projects and a manufacturing unit for solar module, parts and equipment.Although Adani Group did not provide the investment figure for the project considering the average cost of Rs 7 crore for per MW solar power generation depending on location and other factors involved, the investment in the proposed solar park could be around Rs 70,000 crore.“India has embarked upon an ambitious programme of becoming the world leader in renewable power generation, with a special focus on solar. The development of solar park facility is our contribution towards realization of our Prime Minister’s campaign and commitment towards clean and green energy in India,” Gautam Adani, chairman, Adani Group, said in a statement.Last month, AEL signed an MoU with US-based SunEdison Inc to jointly invest $4 billion in setting up India’s largest integrated solar photovoltaic making plant in Mundra, Gujarat.