A 600 MW floating solar project is going to be built on Narmada’s Omkareshwar Dam, in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. The project will boost the power generation capacity of the state. It will also help in addressing the electricity problems of the region.
“Omkareshwar Dam is built on the Narmada river. This is our hydel project and in this, we produce energy from water, but it is spread over about 100 square kilometers, there is a very large water body where the water level remains normal,” explains Sanjay Dubey, Renewable Energy Department Principal Secretary.
He also said that the water level change in the chosen area is nominal, which makes it a suitable site for the solar project.
The solar panels will float over the water. When the dam’s water level goes down, the panels will automatically shift upwards or downwards. As per the release statement, floods and strong waves would not affect energy generation.
Speaking about the project, Madhya Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that as the solar plant is not using any land, people would not get displaced. Moreover, the plant will prevent evaporation, reduce algae growth and keep the water clean enough for human consumption.
“With this, 60 to 70 percent of water will be saved. This is equal to the drinking water of Bhopal residents for 124 days,” he added.
Further, 12 lakh metric tonnes of carbon-dioxide emissions will be prevented through the project. This figure is equivalent to planting one crore and fifty-two lakh trees.
The project would require an estimated investment of over 3,000 crores and is being developed in two phases. According to the statement, the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the first phase will be for 278 MW capacity. For the next phase, tenders for 300 MW capacity will be floated.
With the addition of this solar project, Khandva will become the only district in Madhya Pradesh with solar power, hydel power, and thermal power stations.
Once operational, this plant would become the world’s largest floating solar PV plant. The largest floating solar PV plant in India currently is a 100 MW plant in Ramagundam in Telangana.
The state’s chief minister has also announced that by 2027, Madhya Pradesh will have a renewable energy potential of 20,000 MW.
“The state government is on the path of making Madhya Pradesh the lungs of India along with the heart of India. Madhya Pradesh will make every possible contribution towards fulfilling all the commitments of India and the Panchamrit Mantra given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Glasgow Conference for Climate Change,” Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
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Resource: The Economic Times
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