BSP's Innovative Move: Chhattisgarh's First Floating Solar Plant

• SAIL's Bhilai Steel Plant pioneers Chhattisgarh's first floating solar plant, a 15 MW project to reduce carbon footprint and meet energy needs. PSU firms lead the way in sustainable energy solutions.

SAIL's Bhilai Steel Plant is set to have Chhattisgarh's first floating solar plant, a 15 MW project that will exclusively serve the energy needs of the BSP. The project is part of the steel major's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint in the energy-intensive steel making business. The floating solar plant will be located in the Maroda-1 reservoir, which is spread across 2.1 square kilometers with a water storage capacity of 19 cubic millimeters.

The project will be executed by NTPC-SAIL Power Supply Company Limited, a joint venture between NTPC and SAIL that provides power supplies to SAIL's steel plants in East India. The power generated from the floating solar plant, estimated at 34.26 million units annually, will be consumed by the Bhilai Steel Plant as captive power. Despite setbacks faced by floating solar plants in other regions, PSU firms like NTPC have been at the forefront of establishing such projects due to limited interest from private sector developers.

What are the benefits of SAIL's Bhilai Steel Plant's floating solar plant project?

Benefits of SAIL's Bhilai Steel Plant's floating solar plant project:

1. Reduction in carbon footprint: The project will help SAIL's Bhilai Steel Plant reduce its carbon footprint by utilizing clean and renewable solar energy to meet its energy needs.
   
2. Utilization of water bodies: By installing the floating solar plant in the Maroda-1 reservoir, the project makes efficient use of water bodies for both energy generation and water conservation.
   
3. Energy self-sufficiency: The 15 MW floating solar plant will exclusively serve the energy needs of the Bhilai Steel Plant, making it more self-sufficient in terms of power supply.
   
4. Cost-effective energy generation: Solar energy is a cost-effective source of energy, and by harnessing it through the floating solar plant, SAIL can potentially save on energy costs in the long run.
   
5. Promoting renewable energy adoption: The project sets an example for other industries in the region to adopt renewable energy sources like solar power, contributing to the overall growth of the renewable energy sector in Chhattisgarh.