Ten per cent of Narmada canals enough to generate 2,200 MW of solar power: Modi
25 Apr 2012
India's 1st 1MW canal-top solar power project on Sanand branch canal of the Sradar Sarovar Nigam Ltd opened on Monday (23 April 2012), opening up possibilities for potential solar power generation several thousand mega Watts of power from the canal top.
The 19,000-km-long Narmada canal network in Gujarat is a potential powerhouse and it is estimated that even if 10 per cent of the canal top is used for setting up solar panels, it could help generate 2,200 MW of power.
This would be equivalent to saving 11,000 acres of land that would otherwise be used for solar power projects of such scale and prevent 2,0000 million cum of precious water from evaporation annually, chief minister Narendra Modi, said.
Also, canal-top solar power equipment produces 15 per cent more power than the plant set up on land as the water flowing underneath keeps the solar panels relatively cool and helps generate more power, he said.
Modi was speaking at the inauguration of India's first 1 MW canal-based solar power project, on the Sanand branch canal near Chandrasan village of Kadi taluka, Mehsana district.
The project was executed by Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd (GSECL) as the government could find no developer to take up the challenge at that time, he said.
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