Chandigarh gets floating SPV power plant

The floating plant has a total of 34 photovoltaic of 300 watts each. The plant has been set up on a platform that includes a large outer ring that floats on water, and grid supporting 34 panels which are arranged on 7 rows in a hexagonal pattern.

Explaining the technology, 36-year-old Vivek Jha, director of Yellow 2 Gen Energy Pvt Ltd – which installed the plant – said several motors were attached to the plant for regulating the vertical position of the panels to ensure that the tilt of the panel is equivalent to the altitude angle of the sun.

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“A propulsion system has also been fitted for keeping the panels in line with the direction of the sun,” informed Jha. He added that the plant would be handed over to CREST on Monday after running some tests.

Jeevan Prakash Mohanty, also a director of the firm, said they had developed the technology used in the plant and have got it patented. At present, there are only two such plants in the country.

For oxidation of the lake, two water pumps have been installed for a fountain. For several years, fish have been dying due to low level of oxygen in the lake, said CREST CEO Santosh Kumar. In July last year, around 200 fish died due to low level of oxygen in the lake.

Based on the success of the project, CREST is planning to installs floating panels at Sukhna lake and other water bodies to harness solar energy. “For achieving the target set by the Centre, we are exploring every possible option,” said Santosh Kumar.

In 2008, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had selected Chandigarh to develop it as a model solar city. The administration aims to generate 100MW by 2022.

So far, solar panels have been installed on 110 buildings. On July 2, Chandigarh bagged top position among solar cities in the country, thanks to several initiatives take by the Chandigarh administration for promotion of solar power.