NTPC Simhadri creates history, commissions 10MW floating solar power project
The 10 MW block of the proposed 25 MW floating solar project, being developed in man-made Raw Water Reservoir spread over 150 acres at NTPC Simhadri at Parawada under Vizag city limits, was successfully connected to the southern grid and declared commercial.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 9 July 2021 8:18 PM IST
Visakhapatnam: NTPC Simhadri has become the first power plant in the country to commission a floating 10MW solar power project.
The 10 MW block of the proposed 25 MW floating solar project, being developed in man-made Raw Water Reservoir spread over 150 acres at NTPC Simhadri at Parawada under Vizag city limits, was successfully connected to the southern grid and declared commercial.
In 2019, it was proposed to install a floating solar plant on the reservoir without affecting the bund by providing first-of-its-kind anchor
ropes from all sides. The project was awarded to BHEL on EPC basis with a cost of Rs. 110 crore that was to be completed in 15months.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Floating Solar Project faced several difficulties like equipment supplies and manpower mobilization. Beating all odds, NTPC Simhadri successfully completed the 10MW of the total 25MW.
The first 10MW of the Floating Solar Project is the single largest installation in India as of date. It is an engineering marvel with unique anchoring and mooring techniques. The power evacuation from this project is through dedicated cabling from reservoir to plant switchgear at 33KV level.
Diwakar Kaushik of NTPC Simhadri said works on the remaining 15 MW are in full swing and it is expected that the next 15MW will be added by August 2021.
Further, NTPC Limited is also developing another 100MW Floating Solar Project in NTPC Ramagundam, Telangana. This will be India's largest floating solar Installation once commissioned.
