Olympics 2036 push: Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave to run entirely on renewable energy by 2028

AHMEDABAD: By 2028, Ahmedabad could boast one of the world's largest green-energy-powered sports complexes. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave, which includes the Narendra Modi Stadium and spread across 650 acres around it, is part of Gujarat's push to host the 2036 Olympics.

The Rs 5,050 crore project will be powered by 30 megawatts of renewable energy every day, with tenders for solar and wind projects worth up to Rs 300 crore to be floated soon.

For the AMC, the project fits into its wider efforts to slash its Rs 300 crore annual power bill and expand renewable energy use citywide as part of its Net Zero 2070 goal.

The state govt, in coordination with the Ahmedabad collector's office, the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda) and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), has nearly completed land acquisition and clearance.

Construction will be carried out in two phases at a total cost of Rs 5,050 crore. Tenders for these packages are expected to be floated by Nov or Dec and finalised before year-end, with completion targeted for Dec 2028. For Ahmedabad, the project ties directly into its broader push toward renewable energy. The AMC currently spends more than Rs 300 crore annually on electricity, with water supply projects accounting for 68% of the consumption.

Sewage treatment plants take up 16%, streetlights 12%, and the rest goes to other civic needs. To cut costs and reduce emissions under the Net Zero project, the AMC has launched two major renewable energy projects: a 20MW wind power plant and a 30MW solar power plant, adding up to 50MW. At present, only 14% of the AMC's energy comes from renewable sources, but the target is 43% by Dec 2025, 90% by 2028, and 100% by 2030. For the first time, the civic body has also created a dedicated Net Zero Cell, aligning with India's larger goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070.

A key part of this roadmap is a 30MW solar project earmarked for the SVP Sports Enclave, ensuring the complex runs entirely on clean energy. In Sep 2024, the AMC cleared a landmark proposal for its first ground-mounted solar park. Spread across 120 acres in Junagadh district, the park - set up at a cost of Rs 154 crore on leased land-will generate 41.20 million units of electricity annually. The savings are significant: around Rs 20.60 crore each year on power bills and an annual reduction of 37,704 tonnes of carbon emissions.