PM Narendra Modi Launches India’s Second Largest Floating Solar Plant at NTPC-Kayamkulam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched the 92 MW Kayamkulam Floating Solar Project in Kerala on Saturday, 30th July 2022.

The announcement was made virtually, as part of the Ujjwal Bharat Ujjwal Bhavishya-Power @2047 programme. The programme was organized under the ongoing Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav, to demonstrate the achievements of the power sector in the last eight years.

The Kayamkulam power plant is the second largest floating solar power project of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), after the 100 MW plant at Ramagundam in Telangana. Implemented at a cost of Rs. 465 crores, the project uses around 3 lakh made-in-India solar PV panels. It is built over a lake area that spans 450 acres and is adjacent to NTPC’s Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Project (RGCCPP). The electricity generated from the plant is transmitted to Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) at a rate of ₹3.16 per kWh.

Officials have explained that the plant will help light up around 26,000 households daily and help reduce carbon emissions by 1.73 lakh tonnes every year.

The floating solar plant became fully operational on 24th June 2022. In the online event on Saturday, the Indian Prime Minister dedicated the Kayamkulam plant, along with the 100 MW Ramagundam floating solar PV plant to the nation.

“Today, many of the world’s largest solar power plants are in India. The country has got two more big solar plants. These plants built in Telangana and Kerala are the first and second largest floating solar plants in the country,” said Mr. Modi.

The Prime Minister stated that India has resolved to create 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by this year. He also announced that India has created around 1,70,000 MW of electricity generation capacity in the last eight years.

Other Solar Highlights from the Event

The event witnessed the Prime Minister dedicating and laying the foundation stone of NTPC’s various green energy projects worth over Rs. 5200 crores, which includes the Kayamkulam and Ramagundam plants.
The PM laid the foundation stone for 735 MW Nokh solar project in Rajasthan.
To support the energy industry Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked states to clear off the 2.5 lakh crore debt owed to power companies.
The new National Solar Portal was launched, which allows one to track the installation of their rooftop solar plant online. This will ease the process of application registering, tracking the subsidy funds after installation, and inspection of the plant.