Ambani vs Adani clash in Kutch’s green energy race (Pics: Economic Times)
New Delhi: India’s two big tycoons – Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani are in a high-stakes race in Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch. These giants are engaged in a multi-billion-dollar battle to dominate India’s new energy sector. The Adani Group was the first to announce large-scale plans for Kutch, a dry, arid region near the Pakistan border.
Adani Leads the Race
Adani’s Khavda Renewable Energy Park, covering 538 square kilometers (about five times the size of Paris), is being touted as the world’s largest green energy project. The park aims to generate 30 GW of clean power from solar and wind.
Work at Khavda began in 2022, and the first electricity was fed into the national grid by February 2024, according to Adani Green Energy Ltd’s latest presentation. The company plans to scale the project to 30 GW by 2029, with discussions underway to potentially expand it to 50 GW.
Ambani Enters the Fray
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), led by Mukesh Ambani, revealed its clean energy project in Kutch only in August 2024 during its annual shareholder meeting. At this year’s AGM, Ambani’s youngest son, Anant Ambani, who oversees RIL’s energy portfolio, gave more details.
“In Kutch, we are developing one of the world’s largest single-site solar projects spanning 5,50,000 acres, about three times the size of Singapore. At peak, we will deploy 55 MW of solar modules and 150 MWh of battery containers every day. This single site could meet nearly 10% of India’s electricity needs within the next decade,” he said on August 29, 2025.
While Ambani did not provide full capacity or timelines, the land area translates to 2,225 sq km, significantly larger than Adani’s Khavda. Analysts estimate that 55 MW of solar modules could generate over 110 GWh of electricity annually.
Why Kutch is Ideal for Renewable Energy
- High solar radiation: 5.5–6.0 kWh per sq meter per day, with over 300 sunny days annually.
- Spare land: Barren stretches reduce displacement and land acquisition issues.
- Wind potential: Average speed of 8 m/s, ideal for hybrid solar-wind projects like Adani’s Khavda.
- Infrastructure support: Proximity to Gujarat’s grid, ports (Mundra and Kandla), and government incentives.
Manufacturing and Green Hydrogen Plans
Both Ambani and Adani plan to produce renewable energy equipment locally, including solar modules, batteries, and green hydrogen. Adani is ahead, having started solar module and wind turbine manufacturing, and commissioned India’s first off-grid 5 MW green hydrogen pilot plant.
Other Players and National Goals
State-owned NTPC Ltd also plans 4.75 GW of solar capacity at Khavda. These mega projects support India’s national targets of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
Bottom Line
While Adani’s Khavda is already operational and scaling fast, Ambani’s Reliance is now entering the race with a massive project that could rival or exceed it in size. Kutch has quickly become the focal point of India’s renewable energy ambitions.
