The Chief Project Manager of GRIDCO, Mahesh Das, informed ANI that the state is facing significant challenges in finding adequate land for conventional ground-mounted solar installations, as most of the available land is either used for agriculture or is under environmental protection.
“Odisha suffers from a land scarcity… As you know, we have fertile lands primarily intended for cultivation. Approximately 18 to 30% of land is either forested or designated for other uses. Thus, we lack sufficient space for developing ground-mounted solar power plants,” he stated on December 13.
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To tackle this issue, the state plans to position solar panels on floating platforms across various reservoirs and water bodies. Das clarified that this solution not only alleviates land constraints but also enhances operational efficiency.
He noted that Odisha is rich in water resources, making it ideal for deploying large-scale floating solar projects.
“We are fortunate to have numerous water bodies. There are 185 different water bodies, encompassing medium, minor, and major reservoirs. Our aim is to develop these water bodies into floating solar surfaces. The floating solar concept is well-established and has proven effective over time,” Das stated.
Solar panels will be mounted on floaters in the water bodies, allowing for effective power generation. This method promises high efficiency due to the proximity to water and minimizes the need for cleaning.
Das explained that the natural cooling from the water improves the functioning of solar panels while lowering maintenance needs, such as reducing the frequency of cleaning.
GRIDCO has already initiated steps toward this transition. A tender for a floating solar project of approximately 1,000 megawatts has been issued for the Rengali reservoir. Additional projects are planned for the Upper Indravati and Hirakud reservoirs.
“Another advantage is that efficiency increases due to the cooling effect on the panels. We’ve opened a tender for the Rengali reservoir, targeting around 1,000 megawatts for captive use. The next phases will involve 225 megawatts at Upper Indravati and 1.5 gigawatts at Hirakud. We are evaluating all these water bodies comprehensively,” Das elaborated.
Highlighting the environmental significance of this initiative, Das emphasized the necessity to expand green energy capacity in order to mitigatest carbon emissions, especially in an industrially intense state like Odisha.
“We must aim for a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, which is unattainable without developing our ecosystem for green energy. While we contribute to 30% of steel production in Odisha, we are simultaneously generating carbon dioxide,” he remarked.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
