NMC, Power Grid to set up floating solar panels in Gorewada lake
NAGPUR: In the first-of-its-kind project in the state, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) plan to generate power from floating solar panels in Gorewada lake. The solar power will be utilized to run the civic body’s water treatment plants (WTP) located adjacent to the lake.
The plan is to generate 3MW solar power from the project expected to cost Rs18 crore. As per NMC officials, three WTPs — Pench-I, II and III situated adjacent to Gorewada lake can run entirely on the 3MW solar power during daytime, saving huge expenses of NMC.
Power Grid team comprising executive director Sanjay Garg, manager Anurag Shrivastav and deputy manager Dr Vinay Senre made presentation of the proposed project before the NMC officials on Tuesday.
An official from NMC electrical department told TOI Power Grid will now prepare detailed project report (DPR) of the project and submit with the NMC. “Power Grid came up with pre-feasibility report of the project. Project is feasible and beneficial for NMC. Decision on who will set up, operate and maintain the unit will be taken after submission of DPR,” he said.
TOI had on June 1 reported NMC’s plan to set up solar power generation units of 42MW for running all its establishments like WTPs, hospitals, community halls, libraries, street light, administrative offices etc on solar power. This floating solar power project will be in addition to the earlier project.
NMC official added Power Grid’s plan was good as it will save huge space in and around WTPs for solar power generation. “We were planning to set up panels in and around WTPs. It would have occupied huge space. We bring water from Totladoh (Pench) reservoir and put it in Gorewada lake, which is owned by NMC itself. Then, the water is pumped and treated at the three WTPs. Therefore, the project will be feasible and requires no more stress,” he said.
Under the project, power generating solar photovoltaic (PV) cells will be installed on the surface of the water in the lake. Such projects have proved successful in other parts of the state like Kerala and West Bengal in the past.
Deputy mayor Deepraj Pardikar, municipal commissioner Virendra Singh, leader of opposition Tanaji Wanve, additional municipal commissioner Ravindra Kumbhare, chief engineer Manoj Talewar, executive engineer (electrical) Sanjay Jaiswal, ADTP Pramod Gawande, deputy executive engineer Dipak Chitnis and other NMC officials were present.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
