NTPC-Ramagundam Is India's Largest Floating Solar Plant at 100 MW

• Unlike the 92 MW Kayamkulam floating solar plant which it displaces from the top perch, the Ramagundam plant is likely to retain its rank all through 2023, as other larger floating projects are still under implementation.

Within days of the last commissioning of NTPC's Kayamkulam floating project in Kerala with its 92 MW capacity, NTPC has commissioned the last 20 MW part of the 100 MW Ramagundam floating solar project wef July 1, 2022. That efficiently implies Ramagundam floating solar is the nation's biggest floating solar project currently, offering the Kayamkulam project hardly a week at the top area.

With this complete Floating Solar Capacity in Southern Region additionally rises to 217 MW, way ahead of any other part of the country.

Earlier, NTPC had additionally commercial operation of the 25 MW Floating Solar at Simhadri (Andhra Pradesh).

The 100-MW Floating Solar project at Ramagundam is endowed with sophisticated innovation as well as atmosphere pleasant attributes. Constructed with economic implication of Rs. 423 crores through M/s BHEL as EPC (Engineering, Procurement and also Building and construction) contract, the project tops 500 acres of its storage tank. Divided into 40 blocks, each having 2.5 MW. Each block contains one floating platform and also a range of 11,200 solar modules. The floating platform contains one Inverter, Transformer, as well as a HT breaker. The solar modules are placed on floaters made with HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) product.

The entire floating system is being secured through special HMPE (High Modulus Polyethylene) rope to the dead weights positioned in the balancing tank bed. The power is being left up to the existing switch backyard through 33KV below ground cables. This project is distinct in the feeling that all the electric equipment including inverter, transformer, HT panel as well as SCADA (managerial control as well as data procurement) are also on floating ferro concrete platforms. The anchoring of this system is bottom securing through dead weight concrete blocks.

From atmosphere viewpoint, one of the most obvious benefit is minimum land demand mostly for linked discharge plans. Further, with the existence of floating solar panels, the dissipation price from water bodies is lowered, thus helping in water conservation. Around 32.5 lakh cubic meters per year water dissipation can be stayed clear of. The water body underneath the solar modules aids in maintaining their ambient temperature level, consequently improving their effectiveness as well as generation. Similarly, while coal intake of 1,65,000 Bunches can be avoided per year; carbon dioxide exhaust of 2,10,000 lots annually can be prevented.