NTPC installs India’s largest Floating Solar PV Plant in Kerala

State-run NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation Limited) has installed India’s largest floating solar photovoltaic (PV) plant at Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Plant (RGCCPP) at Kayamkulam in Kerala.
The 100 kWp (kilowatt peak) floating solar PV plant has been indigenously developed as a part of Union Government flagship ‘Make In India’ initiative.

Key Facts

• It has been indigenously developed by NETRA (NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance), R&D arm of NTPC, in collaboration with Central Institute of Plastic Engineering & Technology (CIPET), Chennai.
• The system was installed by Chennai based Swelect Energy Systems Ltd with support from NETRA and NTPC Kayamkulam station in a short span of 22 days.
• Floating solar PV systems are fast emerging as an alternative to conventional ground mounted PV systems which are land intensive. It can also be installed on saline water environment.
• It has various benefits like conserving water through reduction of evaporation, increased power generation due to cooling effect on the panels, reduced installation time etc.
• Installation potential of such type of floating systems in India is huge because of abundance of water bodies.Particularly in Kerala this type of system has a great potential due to availability of water bodies and lack of presence of enough land.

About National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC)

• NTPC limited is a Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU), operational under the Ministry of Power. It is India’s largest power generator and accounts for 25% of total electricity generated in the country
• It was established in 1975 by Union Government which now holds 70% of its equity shares as of May 2015 (after divestment of its stake in 2004, 2010, 2013, and 2015).
• Its headquarters are located in New Delhi. 

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2017