The National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) is building India's largest floating solar plant in the reservoir of its thermal power plant in Ramagundam, Peddapalli district, Telangana, with a power generation capacity of 100MW.
The solar project will cover 450 acres and include 4.5 lakh photovoltaic panels, with room for expansion. “This will be the country's largest floating solar plant in a single location,” says C.V. Anand, Executive Director, NTPC Southern Region.
The project is expected to cost about Rs. 423 crores. By 2022, the project aims to achieve India's goal of 175 GW of installed renewable energy capacity, with 100 GW of solar capacity.
The solar project will cover 450 acres and include 4.5 lakh photovoltaic panels, with room for expansion. “This will be the country's largest floating solar plant in a single location,” says C.V. Anand, Executive Director, NTPC Southern Region.
The project is expected to cost about Rs. 423 crores. By 2022, the project aims to achieve India's goal of 175 GW of installed renewable energy capacity, with 100 GW of solar capacity.
What are Floating Solar Plants and How Do They Work?
- Floating solar plants refer to the placement of photovoltaic panels on the surface of water bodies as a suitable alternative to land-based solar plants.
- Floating solar plants help owners of renewable energy plants overcome key problems such as grid access, land acquisition, and regulations.
- These also aid in lowering grid interconnectivity costs, water evaporation and algae bloom suppression, all of which improve water quality and reduce water treatment costs.
- The cooling effect of the water bodies is another benefit of building floating solar plants.
Source: Amar ujala
This improves the efficiency of solar panels by 5-10%. - In 2014, Kolkata saw the construction of India's first floating solar power plant.
India is home to the world's largest solar power plant
- Madhya Pradesh's Renewable Energy Minister, Hardeep Singh Dang, recently declared that the world's largest solar energy project, with a capacity of 600 MW, will be built at the Omkareshwar Dam on the Narmada River. By the years 2022-2023, power generation will be up and running.
- According to the official release, the solar project is expected to cost Rs. 3,000 crores.
- The floating solar energy panels would have a power generation capability of 600 MW.
About NTPC Limited
- NTPC Limited, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation Limited is India's largest energy conglomerate. It was established in 1975 to help India's power generation industry expand.
- NTPC Limited is an Indian Public Sector Undertaking that was established under the Companies Act of 1956.
- The company's core mission, as reported, is to provide reliable power and related solutions in an economical, efficient, and environmentally friendly manner, powered by creativity and agility, with headquarters in New Delhi.
- NTPC's floating solar power projects are part of a larger initiative to reduce carbon emissions and boost renewable energy output to 30% of total capacity.
- In May 2010, it was designated as a Maharatna Business.
