• The world's largest floating 600 MW solar energy project to be constructed at Omkareshwar dam on Narmada river in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh.

    • The power generation will begin by 2022-23.

    • The estimated investment in this project stands at Rs 3,000 crore.

    • The International Finance Corporation, World Bank and Power Grid have granted in-principle consent for providing aid for the said project development.

    • The primary feasibility study of the project has been completed in collaboration with the World Bank. 

    • Tender for the study of environmental and social impact of the project area is also being issued.

    • Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company has agreed to purchase 400 MW power from the project.

    • The project will have floating solar panels of 600 MW power generation capacity in the backwaters of Omkareshwar dam.

    • It is estimated that in 2 years, the project will start providing cheap and good quality power.

    • Electricity will be produced in about 2000-hectare water area by installing solar panels in the dam.

    • Solar panels will float on the surface of the water in the reservoir.

    • When the water level of the dam is low, it will automatically adjust upwards and downwards. Strong waves and floods will have no effect on them.

    • Floating Solar Technology consists of an array of solar panels mounted on a structure that floats on a water body and is emerging as a promising trend in the renewable energy landscape.

    • Such floating solar plants have an advantage over ground-mounted solar plants owing to their negligible land requirement as these plants can be installed on reservoirs, industrial pools or even small lakes.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)