India Works to Build World's Largest Renewable Energy Project
2023-12-09
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1India is planning to launch the world's largest renewable energy project near the country's border with Pakistan.
2The term renewable describes energy produced from natural sources, such as sunlight or wind.
3These sources are considered renewable because they are continually produced in nature.
4The Indian effort would be so huge it could be seen from space.
5Officials say it will use solar and wind equipment to produce electricity.
6The project is named the Khavda Renewable Energy Park, after the closest village in the area.
7Reporters from The Associated Press recently visited the project area.
8They reported that thousands of workers are taking part in building activities.
9Some workers placed pillars in the ground to hold panels to capture sunlight.
10The large pillars can be seen rising into the distance for as far as the eye can see.
11Other workers prepared parts of the ground to support large wind collectors, called turbines.
12Others were seen transporting building materials or running wiring over many kilometers.
13When completed, the project will be about the size of Singapore, spreading over 726 square kilometers.
14The Indian government estimates it will cost at least $2.26 billion.
15Leaders meeting at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai have said an expansion of renewable energy will be important as the world seeks to meet future environmental targets.
16Some leaders have said any final climate agreement must call for a tripling of renewable energy worldwide.
17In addition, environmental activists say major cuts must be made in the use of non-sustainable planet-warming energies, such as coal, oil and natural gas.
18The Khavda project is being built in the middle of the Rann of Kutch, in India's western Gujarat state.
19The Rann is an extreme environment containing a salt desert and wetlands.
20When AP reporters visited, two days of unseasonal heavy rains had left the ground muddy and wet.
21The only escape for water in the area is through evaporation.
22The rainy conditions made the jobs harder for the workers, the AP reported.
23An estimated 4,000 workers and 500 engineers have been living in camps over the past year to try to get the project up and running.
24Once completed, it will supply 30 gigawatts of renewable energy each year.
25This would be enough to power nearly 18 million Indian homes.
26India is mostly powered by carbon fuels, especially coal. Coal produces about 70 percent of the nation's electricity.
27Renewable energy currently makes up just 10 percent of India's electricity needs.
28The country is currently the third-largest polluter of planet-warming gases, behind China and the United States.
29KSRK Verma is the project leader for Adani Green Energy Limited.
30The Indian government has contracted with the company to build 20 gigawatts of the project.
31Verma has 35 years of experience in the industry.
32He called the Khavda project one of the most difficult he has ever led.
33"It's not at all (an) easy site to work at," he said.
34He noted the area's severe conditions, including high winds, heavy rains and earthquake activity.
35I'm Bryan Lynn.
1India is planning to launch the world's largest renewable energy project near the country's border with Pakistan. 2The term renewable describes energy produced from natural sources, such as sunlight or wind. These sources are considered renewable because they are continually produced in nature. 3The Indian effort would be so huge it could be seen from space. Officials say it will use solar and wind equipment to produce electricity. 4The project is named the Khavda Renewable Energy Park, after the closest village in the area. 5Reporters from The Associated Press recently visited the project area. They reported that thousands of workers are taking part in building activities. Some workers placed pillars in the ground to hold panels to capture sunlight. The large pillars can be seen rising into the distance for as far as the eye can see. 6Other workers prepared parts of the ground to support large wind collectors, called turbines. Others were seen transporting building materials or running wiring over many kilometers. 7When completed, the project will be about the size of Singapore, spreading over 726 square kilometers. The Indian government estimates it will cost at least $2.26 billion. 8Leaders meeting at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai have said an expansion of renewable energy will be important as the world seeks to meet future environmental targets. Some leaders have said any final climate agreement must call for a tripling of renewable energy worldwide. 9In addition, environmental activists say major cuts must be made in the use of non-sustainable planet-warming energies, such as coal, oil and natural gas. 10The Khavda project is being built in the middle of the Rann of Kutch, in India's western Gujarat state. The Rann is an extreme environment containing a salt desert and wetlands. 11When AP reporters visited, two days of unseasonal heavy rains had left the ground muddy and wet. The only escape for water in the area is through evaporation. The rainy conditions made the jobs harder for the workers, the AP reported. 12An estimated 4,000 workers and 500 engineers have been living in camps over the past year to try to get the project up and running. 13Once completed, it will supply 30 gigawatts of renewable energy each year. This would be enough to power nearly 18 million Indian homes. 14India is mostly powered by carbon fuels, especially coal. Coal produces about 70 percent of the nation's electricity. Renewable energy currently makes up just 10 percent of India's electricity needs. 15The country is currently the third-largest polluter of planet-warming gases, behind China and the United States. 16KSRK Verma is the project leader for Adani Green Energy Limited. The Indian government has contracted with the company to build 20 gigawatts of the project. Verma has 35 years of experience in the industry. He called the Khavda project one of the most difficult he has ever led. 17"It's not at all (an) easy site to work at," he said. He noted the area's severe conditions, including high winds, heavy rains and earthquake activity. 18I'm Bryan Lynn. 19The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 20_____________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22renewable - adj. any naturally occurring kind of energy, such as sunlight or wind 23pillar - n. a tall structure made of stone, wood, etc. that supports something above it 24panel - n. a flat, rectangular piece of wood, metal or other material 25evaporate - v. to change from a liquid into a gas or vapor