Mumbai: After having received 24 expression of interests (EoI) from companies for Maharashtra’s first-ever floating solar power plant at Ujani dam in Solapur, the government now wants to study the environmental impact the project may have on the fauna and the fisheries business.
The floating solar power plant of 1000 MW is part of the State’s renewable energy policy, which was announced on July 20, 2015. The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MAHADISCOM) has been appointed as the implementing agency.
“The companies which sent their EoIs had raised some doubts. Even the MAHADISCOM does not have the expertise to deal with the project since it is being built for the first time,” an officer from the energy department said.
Doubts raised include impact of covering the water surface with solar panels on the fauna, fisheries business, and whether covering the water may cause any problem to the irrigation system. The panels, which will cover 1/15th of the total reservoir area, may also lead to change in the water level.
A six-member committee headed by Satish Chavan, director (commercial) MAHADISCOM, has been set up, with members from the environment and irrigation departments. The scope of the committee is to study the environmental impact, get environmental and other clearances, and make a graph of possible changes in the water level. The panel will submit its report in two months.
“The committee is not meant to slow down the process, but instead it will expedite it. Once the report is ready, we will call for tenders. We should be floating tenders by August,” the officer said.
Kerala is the first State to have a floating solar power plant with a capacity of 250 MW.
