NTPC Simhadri becomes India's first power plant to commission floating solar project
Simhadri Super Thermal Power Plant of NTPC has become the first power plant in the country to successfully commission a floating solar power project.
image for illustrative purpose
Visakhapatnam Simhadri Super Thermal Power Plant of NTPC has become the first power plant in the country to successfully commission a floating solar power project.
The Maharatna company said they had commissioned a 10 MW- project a few days ago. "This is a unique feat as we have commissioned the first phase despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic," a senior official of NTPC told Bizz Buzz on Friday.
The floating solar project of NTPC Simhadri has faced a Herculean task due to COVID-19 pandemic in the form of equipment supplies and manpower mobilisation. Beating all odds NTPC Simhadri, successfully completed the 10 MW out of total 25 MW and successfully connected to Southern Grid on June 29 and declared commercial with effect from June 30. The total project is Rs.110 crore.
Simhadri commissioned the first 10 MW floating solar project, which is the single largest installation in India as on date and which is also considered to be 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. According to Diwakar Kaushik, head of plant, Simhadri, the balance 15 MW works are in full swing and it is expected that next 15MW will be added by August end of this year.
NTPC is also developing another 100 MW floating solar project at Ramagundam in Telangana ,it's largest project in the southern region. The project is in the advanced stage of commissioning. This will be India's largest floating solar Installation once
commissioned.
NTPC conceived the idea of a floating solar power plant as Simhadri, which celebrated silver jubilee raising day on Thursday, meets its sweetwater requirement from Yeleru Canal to a man-made raw water reservoir spread over 150 acres near the plant boundary for storage. In 2019 , it was proposed to install a floating solar plant on the reservoir without any impact on the bund by providing first of its kind anchor ropes from all sides. The project was awarded to M/S BHEL on EPC basis at a cost of Rs.110 crore with a completion period of 15 months.
