The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has commissioned the largest floating solar PV project of 25MW on the reservoir of its Simhadri thermal station in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Simhadri PV Project

• The 2000MW coal-based Simhadri Station is the first power project to implement an open sea intake from the Bay of Bengal which has been functional for more than 20 years.
• This is the first solar project to be set up under the flexibilization scheme of coal-powered plant, notified in 2018.
• The floating solar installation which has a unique anchoring design is spread over 75 acres in an RW reservoir.
• This floating solar project has the potential to generate electricity from more than 1 lakh solar PV modules.
• This would not only help to light around 7,000 households but also ensure at least 46,000 tons of CO2e are kept at arm’s length every year during the lifespan of this project.
• The project is also expected to save 1,364 million litres of water per annum. This would be adequate to meet the yearly water requirements of 6,700 households.

Other important facts you must know

• As of May 2021, India has 95.7 GW of renewable energy capacity, and represents ~ 25% of the overall installed power capacity.
• The government plans to establish renewable energy capacity of 523 GW (including 73 GW from Hydro) by 2030.
• India was the world’s 3rd largest renewable energy producer with 38% (136 GW out of 373 GW) of total installed energy capacity in 2020 from renewable sources.
• Tamil Nadu has the highest installed solar power capacity in India. Kamuthi Solar Power Project near Madurai is the world’s second-largest solar park.

UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

Back2Basics: NTPC

• NTPC is an Indian statutory corporation engaged in the generation of electricity and allied activities.
• It is incorporated under the Companies Act 1956 and is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Power.
• NTPC’s core function is the generation and distribution of electricity to State Electricity Boards in India.
• It is the largest power company in India with an electric power generating capacity of 62,086 MW.
• It has also ventured into oil and gas exploration and coal mining activities.
• In May 2010, NTPC was conferred Maharatna status by GoI, one of the only four companies to be awarded this status.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now