Visakhapatnam: The floating solar power plant on Meghadrigedda reservoir is likely to be ready by end of December. The 3MW plant, which is being designed by a Haryana-based solar firm, will cost around Rs 14 crore.
Though environment enthusiasts and bird watchers have raised concerns that the solar panels may affect aquatic life and deter migratory birds from coming to the reservoir site, officials have allayed such fears and stated that ecology will not be impacted as the floating plant will occupy less than 1% of the lake area.
“The advanced technology photovoltaic solar panels will occupy 0.6% of the entire reservoir, which is less than 1%, and it would be a floating plant. There is, therefore, no question of disturbing or adversely affecting aquatic life or migratory birds,” GVMC superintending engineer KVN Ravi told TOI.
The reservoir, including the catchment area, covers an area of around 5 sq km. The dimensions of the solar plant and switch yard will be 230×126 metres.
GVMC deputy executive engineer Ch Kameswara Rao said Haryana-based ReNew Power is designing the project and will also be maintaining it for five years. “Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund (UCCRTF) has given a grant of Rs 14 crore for the project. Once the plant becomes functional, we will supply power to APEPDCL and they will pay GVMC as per unit cost. The work commenced in January but was put on hold due to the pandemic-induced lockdown. Technical teams from other states would install the panels and floating modules. We expect the work to be completed by December-end,” he said.
The GVMC had earlier set up a 1MW solar power plant on Mudasarlova reservoir, which became functional last year.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
