Tapping solar power, avoiding water wastage

Tapping solar power, avoiding water wastage A multi-benefit pilot project generating one-MW electricity from solar panels atop the Narmada branch canal was committed to the nation by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. Pointing out that he had already asked both engineering students and the experts to work on the pilot project further, Mr. Under the project, set up jointly on an experimental basis by the State-owned Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) and the Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited, solar panels have been fitted over a 750-metre stretch on the Sanand-Kadi Narmada branch canal to generate 16 lakh units of clean electricity annually. Mr. Experts claimed that the trial run of the plant had indicated 15 per cent additional power generation compared to similar land-based solar panels for, the water flowing under the panel had helped to keep them cool. It was due to the huge width of the main canals that the experts did not find it feasible to put up heavy solar panels without support, which in turn would restrict water flow. Considering the total canal network of the Narmada dam project in Gujarat, even if 10 per cent of the 85,000-kilometre long main, branch and sub-branch canals were covered with solar panels, they would generate 2,200 MW, eliminate the need of 11,000 acres of land and prevent evaporation of about 2,000 crore litres of water annually, the experts claimed. But he expressed the confidence that a perfect solution would be found soon. Tapping solar power, avoiding water wastage Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 28/04/2012