New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS): India will build the world's largest 4,000 MW solar project in the western state of Rajasthan.

The ultra-mega green solar power project would be built in two phases in an area close to Sambhar Lake, about 75 km from Jaipur.

The first phase will be of 1000 MW and commissioned in three years - by the end of 2016, says Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister Praful Patel.

Patel had asked the Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) under his ministry to initiate the process of setting up the "Sambhar Ultra -Mega Green Solar Power Project" in the 23,000 acre area of the Sambhar Salts Limited (SSL), a subsidiary of Hindustan Salts Limited, a public sector enterprise.

A joint venture (JV) company will be formed with equity from BHEL, Solar Energy Corporation of India, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd., SJVN, SSL and REIL to implement the first phase of the project.

Based on the experience gained during implementation of the first phase, the remaining capacity would be implemented through a variety of models.

When the 4,000 MW of project is fully commissioned, it will generate 6,000 million units of power per annum. The project will supply power to the distribution companies of various States through the National Grid.

"Being the first project of this scale anywhere in the world this project is expected to set a trend for large scale solar power development in the world," siad an official statement.