Ramagundam – The Biggest Floating Solar Power Plant in India

It is in India’s commitment to attain the target of 175 GW of renewable energy capacity

• India’s biggest floating solar power plant by generation capacity (100MW) is being developed by the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC)
• The project expected to be opened in May, is being set up at Ramagundam thermal power plant reservoir
• The project is in line with India’s commitment to attain the target of 175 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2022

Key highlights of the Plant

• It is in line with India’s commitment to attain the target of 175 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2022 including 100 GW of solar installed capacity
• It refers to the deployment of photovoltaic panels on the surface of water bodies. They are a viable alternative to land-based solar arrays with applications in India
• There are a large number of major reservoirs in the Southern Region which provides a huge opportunity to go for renewable energy in the floating solar method
• The solar power plant is to be set up in 450 acres of the reservoir
• The project is commissioned by NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation). NTPC aims to reduce its carbon footprints and increase its green energy production to 30% of its capacity through this solar power plant.
• The cost of the project has been estimated as Rs 423 crores
• The power plant will have 4.5 lakh photovoltaic panels

Advantages of the plant

• The key challenges that face renewable energy plant owners are land acquisition, grid connectivity, regulations and off-take.
• loating solar plants balance high population density and competing uses for available land. The land can be used for other purposes, such as farming or construction
• The bodies of water exert a cooling effect, which improves the performance of solar photovoltaic panels by 5-10%
• Reduced grid interconnection costs, reduced water evaporation, improved water quality, and reduced algal blooming

Challenges in establishing the plant

• Engineering and construction costs are usually higher than those of a ground-mounted solar farm
• Since floating solar involves water and electricity, more consideration must be given to cable management and insulation testing than on land, especially when cables are in contact with water
• A floating solar plant has moving parts that are subject to constant friction and mechanical stress
• The installation is at risk of degradation and corrosion due to moisture, especially in more aggressive coastal environments
• Developing floating solar projects requires a thorough understanding of water-bed topography and its suitability for setting up anchors for floats

Other Solar Energy Initiatives

• Solar energy has taken a central place in India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change with the National Solar Mission as one of the key Missions
• This is in line with India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) target to achieve about 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources and to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% from 2005 level by 2030
• The launch of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was announced by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France in 2015, at the 21st session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-21) in Paris, France
• Such as Solar Park Scheme, Canal bank & Canal top Scheme, Bundling Scheme, Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme etc India has an ambitious cross-border power grid plan ‘One Sun One World One Grid’ that seeks to transfer solar power generated in one region to feed the electricity demands of others

National Thermal Power Corporation Limited

• NTPC Ltd. is a central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Power.
• It is India’s largest energy conglomerate with roots planted way back in 1975 to accelerate power development in India.
• It aims to provide reliable power and related solutions in an economical, efficient and environment-friendly manner, driven by innovation and agility.
• It became a Maharatna company in May 2010
• It is located in New Delhi.

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