Rule change to drive up clean energy project costs in India's top solar state

Recent changes to land registration laws in Rajasthan, India's leading solar state, are expected to increase the costs and delay renewable energy projects. Companies must now pay stamp duty for registering agreements for land sales or leases, resulting in at least an 8%-10% rise in land expenses, which account for nearly 20% of overall project costs. Rajasthan, with 30 gigawatts of installed renewable energy capacity, is a prime location for solar projects due to its vast land and high solar radiation.