The largest floating solar power project in India is now operational. With effect from 00:00 hours on July 1, 2022, NTPC declared commercial operation of the final part capacity of 20 MW out of 100 MW Ramagundam Floating Solar PV Project in Ramagundam, Telangana.
With the completion of the Ramagundam 100-MW Solar PV Project, the total commercial operation of Floating Solar Capacity in the Southern Region increased to 217 MW. Previously, NTPC declared commercial operation of 92 MW Floating Solar at Kayamkulam (Kerala) and 25 MW Floating Solar at Simhadri (Andhra Pradesh), according to Shri Anand.
The Ramagundam 100-MW Floating Solar Project is equipped with cutting-edge technology as well as environmentally friendly features. The project spreads over 500 acres of reservoir and was built with a financial implication of Rs. 423 crores through M/s BHEL as an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contract. Divided into 40 blocks of 2.5 MW each.
Each block is made up of one floating platform and 11,200 solar modules. The floating platform is made up of one inverter, one transformer, and one high-tension breaker. The solar modules are mounted on floaters made of HDPE (High Density Polyethylene).
The entire floating system is connected to the dead weights in the balancing reservoir bed by a special HMPE (High Modulus Polyethylene) rope. Through 33KV underground cables, power is evacuated up to the existing switch yard.
This project is unique in that all of the electrical equipment, including the inverter, transformer, HT panel, and SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), is also installed on floating ferro cement platforms. Bottom anchoring via deadweight concrete blocks is used to secure this system.
The most obvious environmental benefit is the reduced land requirement, which is mostly for associated evacuation arrangements. Furthermore, the presence of floating solar panels reduces evaporation from water bodies, aiding in water conservation.
Water evaporation of approximately 32.5 lakh cubic metres per year can be avoided. The water body beneath the solar modules helps to keep their ambient temperature stable, improving efficiency and generation. Similarly, while 1,65,000 tonnes of coal consumption per year can be avoided, 2,10,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year can be avoided.
