Vizag to have floating solar power plant

Visakhapatnam: The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has taken up the prestigious floating solar power plant project at a cost of Rs 11 crore.

Mudasarlova reservoir is one of the oldest man-made water bodies in the state and has been supplying about a million gallon of drinking water to the households of the city daily. It is also a scenic picnic spot which is popular among residents and tourists.

The reservoir will soon add another facet, making Visakhapatnam the first city in the state to achieve the milestone of having floating solar panels after Kerala and West Bengal, which have already begun to harness solar technology to meet their energy needs.

It is claimed that the Mudasarlova project with a proposed generation capacity of 2000 KWP (Kilo Watt Peak) would be larger and more expensive than the modules currently operating in the country.

According to the GVMC sources, in the first week of June, floating solar panels will be installed in the reservoir for the state's first solar power plant project envisaged by the GVMC. The solar panels will be mounted on top of the floaters which will hover on the water.

The officials also trust that this solar power plant can endure the worst weather as the project is environment-friendly by reducing the evaporation of water in the reservoir at a certain degree of temperature in the summer season, but the floating solar panels have proven to be more efficient than their roof and land counterparts’ performance.

Additionally, Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) has taken up some development works like landscaping, expansion of greenery and installing of LED lighting on the foot paths, shelter zones and many more facilities would be provided to enhance the Mudasarlova Park which lies adjacent to the reservoir.