India to set up World’s Largest Floating Solar Power Plant in Kerela

[Chanakya's_Chant]

India to set up World’s Largest Floating Solar Power Plant in Kerela​

July 2nd, 2014 by Mridul Chadha

Gujarat canal-top solar power project
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After canal-top solar power projects, India is planning to install the world’s largest floating solar power project.

India’s leading hydro power generator National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) is planning to set up a 50 MW solar photovoltaic project over the water bodies in the southern state of Kerala. Renewable Energy College will provide assistance to the company for implementing the project.

Under the contract with NHPC, Renewable Energy College will provide technical know-how and assist in the installation of the proposed floating solar power plant. The approximate cost of the project would be about $64-72 million. The equipment required for the construction of the project will also be sourced by the College.

This floating solar power plant technology was developed last year by a team led by SP Gon Choudhury, Chairman of the Renewable Energy College. With the total estimated cost of Rs 35 lakh ($63,600), the first pilot project is scheduled to be commissioned this year in October at a lake in the outskirts of Kolkata in West Bengal. The funding for the pilot project was provided by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Solar panels will be installed on floating platforms which will be anchored firmly to avoid undulation of the panels around the surface of the water. Capital cost for this floating installation is approximately $1.18 Million per MW with power generation cost of Rs 7 ($0.13) per unit. These projects may also qualify for subsidies granted by the state and central government as part of their solar policies.

This technology is expected to offer more generation yield compared to the solar panels installed on the surface. Project developers would see substantial savings on project cost as the cost to acquire or lease land and cost of land reclamation would not be a factor.

The ecology of the water body is not likely to be affected much and it will also reduce evaporation, thus helping preserve water levels during extreme summer. Solar panels installed on land, face reduction of yield as the ground heats up. When such panels are installed on a floating platform, the heating problem is solved to a great extent.

“We have also been approached by Chilika Development Authority (CDA) in Orissa and the Kerala Airport Authority for setting up similar facilities there. While the Chilika lake has an area of over 1,100 square km, the Airport in Kerala has a huge water body where such facility can be set up. Such panels could also be installed on water reservoirs of dams”, said SP Gon Choudhury, chairman of the Renewable Energy College.

When the project by NHPC is commissioned it would replace a project in Japan as the world’s largest floating solar power plant. Last year in July 2013, West Holdings Group had commissioned 1.2 MW floating solar power plant over a reservoir in Okegawa City, Saitama Prefecture in Japan. Approximately 4,500 floating solar panels were installed on a surface area of about 12,400 square meters of the 30,000 square meters reservoir.

Source:- India Plans World's Largest Floating Solar Power Project (50 MW)

@levina di & others!

 

[Levina]

Kudos to ppl who come up with such great ideas and those who commission it.

Though I still have a doubt, a state like kerala gets rains for almost 6 months of an year so will this floating powerplant give tangible results?
Monsoons reduce the efficiency of solar panles is a known fact.

@nair @acetophenol

@Ravi Nair

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

Kudos to ppl who come up with such great ideas and those who commission it.

Though I still have a doubt, a state like kerala gets rains for almost 6 months of an year so will this floating powerplant give tangible results?
Monsoons reduce the efficiency of solar panles is a known fact.

@nair @acetophenol

Following the government's announcement of setting up 2 lakh mw of solar power generation capacity, prices of barren land earmarked for solar power projects have gone up by at least 20-30 %.

This has been pushing up solar power prices. Water bodies can now offer an alternative solution to this problem. Four acres of land is required to generate 1 mw of solar power at an investment of about Rs 7 crore.

It produces power costing Rs 8 per unit. In contrast, if panels are installed on floating platforms, the area required is likely to be 10-20 % less than 4 acres.

Capital cost for such solar projects will be around Rs 6.5 crore per mw, which will generate power at Rs 7 per unit. It will also qualify for the state and central subsidy that the government provides as part of its solar mission.

With large water bodies available in eastern and south-eastern parts of the country this technology leads to considerable savings on land prices and brings down power generation expenses, reducing the gap between thermal and solar power. It is also expected to offer greater generation yield, compared to similar panels installed on land. The technology is fairly simple. Solar panels will be set up on floating platforms which will be anchored firmly so that it does not sway. The only problem being strong winds on which our engineers are working.

Let us wait for the outcome of the first such pilot project which is scheduled to be commissioned this year in October in Kolkata....

Reference:- Kolkata firm to help NHPC set up floating 50-mw solar power plant in Kerala - Economic Times

 

[Chronos]

I find this story hard to believe.

and as a Keralite, I don't even believe this project will take off.

 

[nair]

Kudos to ppl who come up with such great ideas and those who commission it.

Though I still have a doubt, a state like kerala gets rains for almost 6 months of an year so will this floating powerplant give tangible results?
Monsoons reduce the efficiency of solar panles is a known fact.

@nair @acetophenol

@Ravi Nair

We mallus wont allow such projects to start...... We will find ways to opposite it....... Solar panel over water???? The fate of this project is going to be same of " Sea plane:

 

[Levina]

I find this story hard to believe.

and as a Keralite, I don't even believe this project will take off.

This project would be undertaken by the central government and not Omman Chandy's state government.The central government is pressurizing the state governments to achieve their targets,like in the four lane highways case.
So I am kinda positive, albeit I would still like to know about its performance.

We mallus wont allow such projects to start...... We will find ways to opposite it....... Solar panel over water???? The fate of this project is going to be same of " Sea plane:

We are a bunch of pessimists.


That reminds me what happened to "smart city"???

 

[Chronos]

This project would be undertaken by the central government and not Ommnan Chandy's state government.The central government is pressurizing the state governments to achieve their targets,like in the four lane highways case.
So I am kinda positive, albeit I would still like to know about its performance.


We are a bunch of pessimists.


That reminds me what happened to "smart city"???

Smart, Kerala? Does not compute

 

[Levina]

Smart, Kerala? Does not compute

We are smart....but when we are outside kerala remember??

 

[nair]

This project would be undertaken by the central government and not Ommnan Chandy's state government.The central government is pressurizing the state governments to achieve their targets,like in the four lane highways case.
So I am kinda positive, albeit I would still like to know about its performance.


We are a bunch of pessimists.


That reminds me what happened to "smart city"???

We (read commies) were the people who opposed computer saying it reduces the job opportunity....

We are smart....but when we are outside kerala remember??

Well Mallus are most rated workers out side kerala...... Inside kerala, we are aware about our rights, but we forget our duties...

 

[Skull and Bones]

I find this story hard to believe.

and as a Keralite, I don't even believe this project will take off.

How about a alcohol distillery for cheap alcohol? That will be money well spent.

 

[acetophenol]

Kudos to ppl who come up with such great ideas and those who commission it.

Though I still have a doubt, a state like kerala gets rains for almost 6 months of an year so will this floating powerplant give tangible results?
Monsoons reduce the efficiency of solar panles is a known fact.

@nair @acetophenol

@Ravi Nair

Soon environmentalists will begin to oppose this,they are the teams who said sea planes will kill fishes

 

[Levina]

We (read commies) were the people who opposed computer saying it reduces the job opportunity....

I know that part of the story.....though I would like to know how many of these commies now use social network??
I would like to post a humble reminder about their anti-computer/technology campaign on their FB status.

Well Mallus are most rated workers out side kerala...... Inside kerala, we are aware about our rights, but we forget our duties...

So is smart city doomed???

 

[nair]

I know that part of the story.....though I would like to know how many of these commies now use social network??
I would like to post a humble reminder about their anti-computer/technology campaign on their FB status.

These days commies use Social media to spread their propaganda.....

So is smart city doomed???

Not really.... under construction

 

[Chronos]

How about a alcohol distillery for cheap alcohol? That will be money well spent.

There has been a crackdown on Bars recently in the state.

some teetotaler named Sudheeran.

These days commies use Social media to spread their propaganda.....


Not really.... under construction

what's this about a smart city? could you provide details?

 

[halupridol]