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Canal Solar Power Project

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The Canal Solar Power Project is a project launched in Gujarat, to use 19,000 Kilometre long network of Narmada canals across the state for setting up solar panels to generate electricity.[1] It was the first ever such project in India. This project has been commissioned by SunEdison India.[2]

Canal Solar Power Project in Kadi

Inauguration of Pilot Project

Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat, inaugurated a 1 Megawatt (MW) pilot project on 24 April 2012.[1] The project is situated on the Narmada branch canal near Chandrasan village of Kadi taluka in Mehsana district.

The pilot project will generate 1.6 million units of clean energy per annum and also prevent evaporation of 9 million litres of water annually from the canal. The project virtually eliminates the requirement to acquire vast tracts of land and limits evaporation of water from the 750 meter long canal,[3] tackling two challenges simultaneously by providing energy and water security.[1]

Engineering and construction

The engineering, procurement and construction contract for the project was awarded to Sun Edison at a cost of Rs 177.1 million. The pilot project was developed on a 750-metre stretch of the canal by Gujarat State Electricity Corporation (GSECL) with support from Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL), which owns and maintains the canal network.

The cost per megawatt of solar power, in this case, is likely to be much less than the estimated Rs 10-110 million, as the two banks of the canal will be used to cover the canal by installing solar power panel and the government will not have to spend much on creating basic infrastructure, including land acquisition .

Gujarat has about 458 Kilometre of open main canal, while the total canal length, including sub-branches, is about 19,000 Kilometre at present. When completed, the SSNNL's canal network will be about 85,000 km long.

Assuming a utilisation of only 10 per cent of the existing canal network of 19,000 Kilometre, it is estimated that 2,200 MW of solar power generating capacity can be installed by covering the canals with solar panels.

This also implies that 11,000 acres of land can be potentially conserved along with about 20 billion litres of water saved per annum.[4]

Praise for the project

Union New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah praised Gujarat's Canal Solar Power Project saying,[3]

Gujarat has shown the way with the commissioning of the world's first 1 MW canal-top solar power plant in Mehsana district.

Abdullah said Damodar Valley Corporation, which has over 2000 Kilometre of canal network, will follow Gujarat's lead and mount solar panels that can generate up to 1,000 MW electricity.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Now, Gujarat to cover Narmada canals with solar panels!". thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  2. ^ "Solar power cells on Narmada canal to light up rural homes". DNA. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Damodar Valley to replicate Gujarat's canal-top solar plant". Business Standard. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  4. ^ "State pulls off rare feat in reaping Sun, saving water". ExpressIndia. Retrieved 24 April 2012.

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