A multi-benefit pilot project generating one-MW electricity from solar panels atop the Narmada branch canal was dedicated to the nation by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.
Besides producing “clean energy” without causing any pollution, the solar panels would spare an enormous amount of land otherwise required if the solar power project was land-based. In addition, they save a huge quantity of water in irrigation canals from evaporation.
Under the project, set up jointly on an experimental basis by the State-owned Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) and the Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited, solar panels have been fitted over a 750-metre stretch on the Sanand-Kadi Narmada branch canal to generate 16 lakh units of clean electricity annually. As the canal will remain covered, it is estimated that the project will prevent evaporation of 90 lakh litres of water annually. Experts claimed that the trial run of the plant had indicated 15 per cent additional power generation compared to similar land-based solar panels for, the water flowing under the panel had helped to keep them cool.
Considering the total canal network of the Narmada dam project in Gujarat, even if 10 per cent of the 85,000-kilometre long main, branch and sub-branch canals were covered with solar panels, they would generate 2,200 MW, eliminate the need of 11,000 acres of land and prevent evaporation of about 2,000 crore litres of water annually, the experts claimed.
Mr. Modi said the pilot project would put Gujarat and India on the world energy map, and it would also be a major contribution to the humanity in the field of clean energy and solving the problem of both water and power shortages.
Pointing out that he had already asked both engineering students and the experts to work on the pilot project further, Mr. Modi said it would do wonders if installation of solar panels became feasible on the Narmada main canals also. It was because of the huge width of the main canals that the experts did not find it feasible to put up heavy solar panels without support, which in turn would restrict water flow. But he expressed the confidence that a solution would be found soon.
Keywords: clean energy, solar power project, Narendra Modi government
In my opinion, it is very good that at least some people in the nation are willing to explore new avenues. Solar generation efficiency is currently quite low but we are confident that it will improve with time since Microwave was a similarly inefficient technology back in the 60s.
An angle that hasn't been talked about is that this move will generate a lot of jobs for Gujarat. There has been heavy investment and MNC involvement in this sector, and as a youngster, it is very good news for me that a new sector is opening up with potentially lucrative job opportunities. I wish our government and media in general would give more coverage to this type of development because all of this will directly impact our lives a lot more than the latest political or celebrity gossip will. As for doubts about water cycle: Water cycle needs heat, not radiation per se. All water undergoes ultrafiltration anyway before it is suitable for drinking so at least tap water will be unaffected.
Thas the Way Engineering should go on.. What we lack is a Strong Man like Mr.Modi? As Energy Consultant I suggest Gujarat Govt to make all the Govt Build House with Solar Roof.Which can be used for Both Power Generation and Heating.
Main problem of solar energy generation is huge investment. For 1MW Solar Project itself, We need to invest 15 Crore Rupees. Its huge amount of investment against Nuclear power generation.
1 MW requires 1KM Stetch Land(Assume)
10% of 8500 KM = 850KM (it can Generate Max of 850 MW)
1MW Solar Power Cost = 15 Crore Rupees
850 units of 1MW Solar Project Cost = 850 * 15 = 12570 Crores
For Rs.12570 Crore Investement,we will get only 850 MW Power.But if the same amount was invested in Nuclear,we will get 2000MW Power.
Thats why our Indian Govt is investing more on Nuclear power than Solar Power.
Solar is greeen one.So Indian Govt should start producing the Solar panels and sell the same to public with more subsideries.Otherwise we cant expect more investors on solar energy.
I am not sure how to react to this.
who knows what it means to envirnment when we cover 10% of 8500 km of river. Are we screwing-up the environment in the name of green energy and protecting the environment?
Salutations to the dynamic Chief Minister of Gujarat Mr Mody and the 'Hindu' for
publishing the Article on how solar energy could be tapped on a large scale for the benefit of the nation. There is no dearth of canals in our land and solar power is available in plenty. If a Chief Minister like Mody with a vision could prove that this novel method of tapping solar energy is the best answer to our country's endemic power shortage, then it is high time for the rest of the country to follow Gujarat's example in implementing the project.
Hope Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will be deputing her cabinet ministers in charge of irrigation, electricity and agriculture to Gujarat with the top officials of the respective departments to Gujarat to see what her friendly CM Shri Modi is doing to make the state the first state without power shortage and well industrialised.
In Chennai go Solar using the roofing of the MRTS elevated railway
stations light.Electric posts and extra spaces are also available
This might seem a stupid question,
but does not covering up the huge areas of water bodies, effect the natural water cycle?
It is interesting to note that while Indian media has not provided much attention to this novel idea, leading international media have covered this story. Back in 2009 India started drafting strategy to harness solar energy and get carbon credits as well as fulfil its committment with developed world to use more clean energy. However, unfortunately but not unexpectedly, central government has hardly made any progress in this front.
Modi started working on this at the same point, however not only he managed to establish Asia's biggest solar park in short time frame, he also spearheaded execution of this novel idea. If this idea works at level of 1 MW energy, perhaps it could be extended to much wider level as Narmada canals are spread several thousand kilometers in Gujarat.However, even with all this progress, India lags way behind in harnessing solar energy when compared to US and China, even worse, when compared to much smaller countries like Germany and Italy.
Some time back there was an initiative of Rain Water Harvesting at some places it was made mandatory for new buildings to have the facility of rain water storage.
In the same lines All rooftops should be fitted with solar panels, it help all the people pay less electricity bills.
Its just one MW .. I dont understand why we are making such a hue and
cry about this???? The energy demands of ever growing India is so high,
that this project in reality is hardly going to have any impact. And we
need to seriously look into the cost of setting up this project across
the whole length of Narmada river. For the population we have there is
no escaping the prospect of Nuclear based power generation. This seems
to me more like a useless gimmick to gain momentum for his aspirations
as a national role.
Great idea!! Hope this pilot can be successfully implemented nationwide. Similar pilot plans need to be implemented for placing solar panels on roof tops of tall buildings/flats. Power generated using these solar panels can either be routed back into the national/state grid or routed to local area power stations for local power supply.
I like the way Gujarat Government vision.It is what is required for every person and politician,money goes but the vision for better tomorrow is more important.Kudos to Narendara Modi and his government for supporting such projects
Great idea in terms of power generation and solving other problems also.
Congratulations to Gujarat government for their initiative!
This is an excellent technological idea. I'd like to know the total installed cost of this 1 MW Solar Power project so the power & water (and Carbon) credits can be used to calculate the return on investment. Similarly, larger projects should be evaluated for ROI data and it should be made public.
It is such innovative steps that will help India stand out and go to the
next level!
Good idea,undoubtedly Gujarat will become no 1 state in India.HATS OFF to Narendra Modi.
Modi ji is doing a great job and hats off to The Hindu to encouraging such positive news. The other media houses have not covered this article for known reasons. The Hindu should promote developmental activities of inspiring states like Gujarat, Bihar etc. What India badly needs is a nationalist leader who is non corrupt and Shri Modi perfectly fits the bill. Thank you The Hindu team once again
Salute to Mr. Modi. He is a visionary! The great leader. Other states shoudl follow his ideas and guidances.
Water can be evaporated from oceans - we need to conserve the river water!! this water in the absence of the dam and
canal would have been dumped in the ocean anyway....
Hi Everyone,
Few readers have pointed out some doubts over impact of this activity
on evaporation and cooling temperature of surroundings.
1. Evaporation contribution from the canal for rainfall purpose is
insignificant as compared to other contributors.
2. Some said what will happen if high flood or discharge occurs in
canal(concerned about safety of solar panel structures).
Ans : Don't worry canal gets regulated flow from main reservoir and if
such situation arises, we should better worry about our homes and
lives than these structures, which will get affected by the flood at
most.
Extremely proud and happy to see positive changes happening for once.
I am sure the scientists have weighed the risks of less water evaporating.
What I like is that we are experimenting and trying to make viable long terms investments. I hope the rest of India follows the good example and more positive changes are made.
how will canals get rain water if it closed?
Brilliant innovation!It is a great three in one initiative-
Saving of space/land
Production of "clean"power
Saving precious water through reduction of evaporation losses.
Please make him the PM. Manmohan's acting career should be put to an end now.
This suppose to be Headline of every news paper rather than putting politics and useless news. Really, such news increase the confidence of the nation.
Like any other innovative thought it has also got both pros and cons but given a thought in correct direction it can create wonders....
HATS OFF to one and all who are involved in this great idea
Congrats to Narendra Modi ideal canditate to lead INDIA......
Good Job Mr. Modi... I hope Floods were taken into Consideration during
the Setup.
This is a great initiative. Just to explain the people who are talking
about evaporation, the same water will be carried to the atmosphere
somewhere else in the fields by means of transpiration from the plants
instead of simply evaporating in the canals. In this process more food
is produced as a byproduct. Agree that the entire canal is not covered
and hence the water will evaporate anyway from other parts of the canal,
so the total reduction in evaporation is a small percentage, but still
something is better than nothing right?
Thats the way to go Modi Ji, even TN will follow your way Jaya also working good in this term alone in many zones...Its agood idea to cover canal instead of land but I doubt about how much impact it will create in the ecosystem of the living beings in the water...
If you can send this to Modiji
Pranamam Modi Ji,
I personally feel you are the best bet for PM post of India. You have
Vision, You know how to govern, You know how to foresee the future and
plan, you conceived a Government should act for the welfare of the
people and development of the Nation. Had you been in Kerala, Kerala
would have been a Industrial friendly, Investment Friendly developed
state of Indian Union because we are rich in all resources than your
native State. I recommend our politicians and present government to
take a leaf from you books and replicate or entire Ministry to tour
Gujarat and learn from you instead of making trip to Canada, Belgium,
Gulf countries and other European countries to learn nothing from
there. Good luck for your Promotion to be the PM of India. I am sure
you will lead India to the coveted Super power on World map.
Great idea!!!I wish it could be implemented in Tamilnadu as well!! Dear Chief minister, FYI.
If at all any leader was going to implement this, then it got to be Mr. Narendra Modi. Put aside the political differences, I honestly think he is the leader who we can look upto.
On a serious note, solar energy is not a clean energy. To fabricate a panel, one emit a lot of greenhouse gases. Besides, panel takes almost 10-15 years to tap energy which has been spent on its fabrication.
Someone else has already mentioned 'maintainence problem'. It is also a very costly affair but hey its our sweethear Modi and it must be right if he is doing it.
It is notewortthy that the two States foremost in non-conventional enery and renewable energy production are Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, both non-Congress.
I hope other states and centre will support this concept wholeheartedly and also initiate simialr programs across the country.
Really innovative concept used effectively with multiple advantages (clean energy, water conservation, effective use of land). Just was curious to know the cost-effectiveness in terms of longivity and maintenance of the solar panels. The article doesn't cover the details of cost-benefit analysis. Those details will help to analyze the feasibility of the same in other states as well.
In my view, Best quality of Shri Modi is to accept New and profitable ideas for people and industries of gujarat and implement the same very fast.
A man with a serious nationalistic intent and futuristic vision, fit to be a nations leader.
I liked the idea...But the water has to be evoparated in order to keep the atmosphere cool...If Every one starts doing this...then it will again have adverse effect on the system...The point of using Non Conventional Energy is to reduce the Global Warming....
Great Work by Narendra Modi. I am from kerala, were only revolt and
revolutions happened in history against the landlords previously. We
take the intoxication in our blood, and now feel rubbish to keep it now.
We want development at any cost. We too wand a modi-fication here. If a
an earthquake and a communal violence can give better activities like
this then we want that too.
This is awesome , and I recently heard that they are going to install many micro water turbine to generate electricity from the running water below this pannel, these small turbines will be hanging down from these pannels.
if indian politicions rise above their petty sefishness... modi and his
ideologies should be promoted pan india , and he could very well be
our next pm . why shouldn't our leaders also be intellectuals istead of
being, what they were before they donned that starched white kurta ..?
Mr. narendra modi is doing great job.He is the only politician with
vision for nation development. Keep going on........
Amazing idea and effective governance of Mr Modi... all states should immediately follow Gujarat's foot steps.
Great Mr. Modi, Tamilnadu which is experiencing acute powercut, should
take war footing steps like this. Instead the government is busy filing
allegation with the opposition or screening family fights. Not bothered
about citizen's plight. God only should save Tamil Nadu.
Excellent Work done by Mr. Narendra Modi ji. Let us hope the Chief Ministers' of the states will extract the good principles that are being followed by Modi.
Very good move as total world concern bout Envoirmental this good intiativ taken let other chief miniters follow rather faiting themselves
Wonderful initiative from gujarat. and one more star on modi's shelf. We tamil-nadu should also follow this pilot project and see the feasibility. This is important to us too as we have enourmous heat, and solar rays.
More over it serves two purpose, 1) generates electricity and 2) prevents evaporation of water. which would be even more needed for TN.
Madam JJ should make a note of it and implement it as she did rain water harvesting
What will happen when Narmada is flooded during monsoons?? Are these designed to withstand the same or will they be washed away too?? A very brilliant start nevertheless
Its great job done by Mr. Modi Gi rule in gujarat.All states in india should follows the modi's mathra in politics and fight against the currption ..
This is very good invention i would call. This is solution to multiple problem starting from land acquisition for solar panels to clean energy and saving of water due to evaporation.
Hope other parts of India (mainly those which are still way behind in development) would not hesitate to copy the idea. This idea is something which can help to meet the demands of electricity in India.
Inspiring and amazing example of sustainable development! It has proved
that engineering and creativity with a focus on social needs can solve
daunting problems. This one shot has the potential to save three valuable
resources at the same time-- water, land, and providing clean energy at
the same time. Thanks to the state government and the team of scientists
involved!! All the best for further deliberations!
This is a great step, no doubts.
But out of curiosity, how was the amount of water that would have
otherwise evaporated if not for these panels estimated? Also, will this
have any impacts to rain in the region after this. After all, rain is a
result of water that is evaporated from the land.
Request someone knowledgeable to shed some insights into this.
Having heard all this blame, it is commetable on behalf of Mr Modi to still think and execute this type of innovative ideas.
Excellent creative & useful work done by Mr. Modi, to the people of his state & to the people of this country. A ll other States & even Central Govt. should emulate his thinking & viasion. All kudoos to him.
I believe there is a typing error here. 85,000-kilometre long canal
should have been 85KM or 85,000m
Great job by Mr.Modi..... other states should learn lessons by seeing this development instead of involving in scams. Especially AndhraPradesh.
WOW...What an idea sirjee..all the other states also should follow this model..
It is wonderful work and will be beneficial to next generation in very
big way. Water conservation is most important and so is the production
of energy with renewable sources. Thanks to effective implementation of
policies and propagating. Thanks to Mr. Modi for good governance and
running a effective and visible government.
I am sure this should be an idea of an intelligent think tank, but being in Gujarat Modi reaps the fruit of benenit.
Great Idea .Other people should think about this .
Hats off!! Modi gi.Its great idea from your side..Make the gujaraj as ideal to other states.
This particular initiative may or may not prove to be 100% successful. But what is more important is such initiatives are being taken up and encouraged. Its imperative that we start finding good renewable sources of energy, and we have to do that fast.
Kudos to those who contributed to this project !
This is a great step to form an eco-friendly environment. Hope they have also considered the result of less evaporation. This might affect the presipitation and hence the rain fall.
>What a great initiative taken by Mr. Narendra Modi and his govenrments. These types of noble idea should be adopted by all State Chief Minister.
Good initiative by Gujarat govt. But I would like to point out that it does not really prevent water evaporation, as the article points out. The length of solar panels as compared to the total length of Narmada branch canal is miniscule. Hence, reduction in evaporation is minimal. Thus it is a misleading comment.
Use of the canal for setting up solar panels is less controversial, as the space will not lead to land issues and agitations. Good thinking by Gujarat administration.
While this sounds novel at the outset, and is indeed commendable, lot
of operational problems will come. For ex, lots of small animals and
birds will make the bottom side of solar panels their homes and can
result in polluted water flowing - with no sun to 'treat' the water
with natural ultra violet radiation, the water will become a big
career of e-coli and other bacteria.
Second, if there is a flood and a sudden surge in the canal, will the
panels stand a chance?
lets hope these and other things have been thought through -in gujrat,
its llikely it would hav been.
This is really a two in one project-generation of electricity as well as saving 1000 and 1000 liters of water. This has to be followed in all other states in India to reduce the scarcity of water and electricity, thereby saving our next generation. Because this is a pollution free project and saving our environment too.
Modi, the man with vision. Whether it was 108 services or BRTS or now solar power project, he converted the dreams into reality. It requires more than mere eyes to see what common people can't. that's VISION for the society, state and Nation at large.
Nonconventional energy or clean energy , as we call it , is a demand of time.With limited and depleting resources(coal and petrolium) and risks associated with nuclear power generation, this project looks like a ray of hope. it not only eliminates the problems associated with setting up a new power plant (be it thermal, hydrolic or nuclear), it also prevents evaporation of water hence aiding irrigation.
Realy ideal activity by Mr.Modi ...which other states should adapt especialy all states are striving for basic necessities like water & electricity
When Ideas are encouraged and implemented, people get motivated, towns get empowered, states get to growth and country get to prosperity. This is what Gujarat CM and Gujarat as a state is doing. Great work!
A wonderful achievement, made possible by great innovative thinking. It's unfortunate that none of the other states in the country have been able to achieve what Gujarat has done over the years. It's a hard lesson for others (especially congress ruled states) that even the most arid of lands can be used for growth of people and this can be achieved even by maintaining complete harmony with nature.
News like this should have made headlines and except Hindu I didn't find it mentioned in any other leading English dailies. Out of box ideas as above should be encouraged and propagated throughout India, but I guess we Indians are too engrossed in IPL and movies. I remember one comment from our former prez Abdul Kalaam that in Israel they give importance to such ideas in their news coverage. Thanks to Hindu for carrying the article.
This is an excellent innovation and immensely beneficial and environment friendly overall and deserves to be emulated across the country.
It will not only preserve scarce land but also help conserve equally precious and increasingly scarce water, besides generating energy in a nation starved for it.This is a 'triple whammy'. Kudos to the planners and executors of the project.
It is a innovative idea which is win win in terms of water conservation and electricity generation. Such initiatives will provide greater impetus to growth and resolve some the teething problems faced in our growth
Good idea. I see another possibility too. Solar panels, in order to ensure that their energy collection efficiency does not deteriorate, need to be cleaned at frequent and regular intervals to remove dust and other objects (bird droppings?) from them. This usually requires a lot of water. In this case, the water in the canal just below could be used. There may be a good possibility for this process to be automated too. However, it must be ensured that the water, retrieved after cleaning the panels, is returned back to the canal only after adequate filtration and purification so that the muck (dirt) collected from the panels get properly and completely removed and waste-disposed.
bravo!
whoever hit upon the idea of producing electricity and also save water; carry on with your experiments and try to extract the maximum from the Sun. Good luck;God bless you.
I not only see it as creation of green energy, but also an oppotiuity to expose to us to A leader who thinks and acts ahead on advancement in this field over any other political leaders of our country. Looking at the political leaders, having a vision or not, the only leader stand against all; alas he is presently heading Gujarat, and not INDIA. I WANT TO ASK A QUEATION TO EVERY SO CALLED SCIENTIST, TO THINK ON THEIR REAL CONTRIBUTION ATLEAT NOW.
A very novel and effective concept. This should be researched further
and expanded throughout the state and entire country.
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