: With power generation from renewable energy sources increasingly getting high priority in policies of both the Union and State Government, Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) Limited has proposed to set up canal top solar power plants on experimental basis.
All chief engineers of irrigation projects have been asked to provide lists of suitable canals on which solar panels could be installed over water surfaces.
“We are going to set up solar power plants on the 10 km length canal stretch on pilot-basis. The process of identification of suitable canal stretches has been undertaken. Once we know the inventory of the canal network suitable for establishing solar power plants, the project will be taken up,” Prakash Kumar Nanda, Superintending Engineer (monitoring and evaluation) here on Friday.
Mr. Nanda said a canal should have at least 10 metre width and minimum length of 750 metre to be selected for solar power projects.
“It will be win-win situation for both water resource and energy departments. The space above water surface is yet to be put to use. If solar panels are fixed, then evaporation of flowing water could be minimised. The most critical factor in the project is that government need not have to acquire land,” the senior engineer said.
The water resource department is now looking at Rengali irrigation project, Subarnarekha Irrigation Project and Puri Canal to identify suitable space. To get maximum solar radiation, canals having east-west alignment will be preferred. The power to be generated from solar power projects would be distributed through the grid.
According to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), almost all districts of Odisha receive an average solar radiation of 5.5 kWh/ square kilometer area, with around 300 sunny days every year. Odisha has potential to generate 8,000 MW of solar power through solar photovoltaic route.
As far as development of solar power in Odisha is concerned, it is proposed to develop solar parks with 1,000 MW capacity inside Odisha through an independent power producer model.
Implementation of 5 MW rooftop solar power projects in twin cities of Cuttack and Bhabaneswar is at an advanced stage. Work order has been placed to public sector BHEL for implementation of the 20 MW solar project at Manamunda in Boudh district.
If solar panels are fixed, then evaporation of flowing water could
be minimised
Prakash Kumar Nanda
Superintending Engineer
