How billionaire Gautam Adani is turning desert in India ‘green’, massive renewable project unveiled

SALT DESERT: A colossal renewable energy endeavour is emerging from this expansive salt desert in northwestern India, and is poised to claim the title of the world's largest when it reaches completion in three years. The Khavda renewable energy park, named after the nearby village, encompasses an extensive solar and wind energy project of such magnitude that it will be visible from space, as per the project developers.

SOLAR POWER DRIVE: In a groundbreaking announcement, the Adani Group of India unveiled plans to build the world's most ambitious green energy park, sprawling across 726 square kilometers in the formidable Rann desert. This monumental undertaking is set to establish a new global standard for sustainable energy initiatives. The Great Rann covers an area of about 18,000 square km (7,000 square miles) and lies almost entirely within the Indian state of Gujarat.

ROLLOUT: Indian tycoon Gautam Adani is planning to expand on the company's environmental credentials, investing ₹7 lakh crore (about $84 billion) in various aspects of a green initiative by the multi-billion dollar firm. Currently, it is focussing its ports business towards a greening drive.

AMBITIOUS DRIVE: Simultaneously, other workers are engaged in constructing foundations for immense wind turbines, transporting construction materials, erecting substations, and laying miles of wires, all contributing to the realization of this ambitious renewable energy initiative.

$84-BILLION GREEN PROJECTS: The Adani group made significant waves in the stock market with the blockbuster announcement. Chairman of the Adani Group, Gautam Adani, with a net worth estimated at $73.3 billion (2023), revealed that the conglomerate is set to make a colossal investment of ₹7 lakh crore ($84 billion) across various industries, aiming to solidify its position as a leading infrastructure player in India. This ambitious plan includes a substantial expansion of the group's renewable energy business and other strategic initiatives.

SCALING UP: What distinguishes this venture is its sheer scale, making it visible even from space, and marking an unparalleled milestone in the development of renewable energy infrastructure. The Adani Group's commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainable energy positions this project as a pioneering force, symbolizing a monumental leap towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.

BOLD MOVE: Adani posted on the social media platform X to elaborate extensively on his conglomerate's innovative green initiative. The projects involve substantial investments across various sectors within the diverse portfolio of the conglomerate, ranging from apples to airports.

MASS PRODUCTION: Machine operators work on cell printing for solar panels at the Adani-owned Mundra Solar Techno-Park Private Limited, in the port town of Mundra in Western India's Gujarat state, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. It's one of the few locations in India where most solar energy components are made from scratch. Adani Group is planning to scale up to 10 GW of solar manufacturing capacity by 2027, from the current 4 GW, according to Indian media reports.

ELECTRONS FOR MILLIONS: Upon its realisation, the desert-turned-to-green-energy powerhouse aims to harness a staggering 30 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power, electrifying over 20 million homes. File photo shows residential and commercial buildings seen from a show home at Lodha Altamount, a luxury residential project developed by Lodha Developers Ltd., in Mumbai, India.

POWERED BY THE SUN: An apartment building displaying murals at the East Kidwai Nagar General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) Redevelopment Project, redeveloped by National Buildings Construction Corp. (NBCC), stands in the background in Delhi, India. The district is one of Delhi's flagship smart city projects developed for an enclave of civil servants. The project, begun in 2014, will replace 2,444 old low-rise homes with 4,608 apartments in modern 14-story towers, together with car parking and retail space. The 87-acre project is touted as a postcard-worthy example of new government housing, with solar panels, on-site waste management and rainwater harvesting.

WIND POWER: Employees work on a wind turbine blade at the Adani New Industries Ltd in the port town of Mundra in Western India's Gujarat state, India, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. It's one of the few locations in India where most solar energy components are made from scratch.

MOVING FORWARD: Gautam Adani said his firm will be expanding its renewable energy business, among other initiatives. "Our dedication to protecting the environment is also reflected in our expanding mangrove plantations, aiming for a remarkable 5000 hectares by FY 25. This is yet another step towards a greener future and further testament of our commitment to climate stewardship.

ON EXPANSION MODE: The Adani Group headquarters in Ahmedabad, India. File photo taken on June 21, 2023.

GREENER PORTS: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone is India’s largest seaport operator, with ports on both the east and west coasts. Adani said on X: "By 2025, we will set a national benchmark being the only carbon-neutral port operations and be net zero for APSEZ by 2040. Our climate-friendly transformation includes electrifying all cranes, switching all diesel-based internal transfer vehicles to battery-based ITVs, and installing an additional 1,000 MW of captive renewable capacity." Photo shows a general view of a container terminal is seen at Mundra Port, one of the ports handled by India's Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, in the western Indian state of Gujarat.

ENERGY TRANSITION: Adani's solar farm in Kamuthi, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with a generating capacity of 648 MW. It's just one of the Adani Green's numerous solar farms in India. Adani Group is not only scaling up solar manufacturing capacity but also putting them to good use. Following a visit to "ground zero" of India's clean energy transition earlier this month (December 2023), the Associated Press reported that despite the tough conditions due to incessant rains, an estimated 4,000 workers and 500 engineers have been living in makeshift camps for the better part of the past year toiling to get this project up and running.