North India’s Largest Floating Solar Project Inaugurated – Chandigarh one more step closer to be a Model Solar City
The Governor of Punjab and Administrator, Chandigarh today inaugurated North India’s largest floating Solar project of 2000kWp at Water Works, Sector- 39, Chandigarh and also inaugurated a 500kWp floating Solar Project with Fountains at Dhanas Lake, Chandigarh in the presence of Smt. Kirron Kher, Member of Parliament, Sh. Dharam Pal, Adviser to the Administrator, Sh. Anoop Gupta, Mayor Chandigarh.
The 2000kWp Floating Solar Power Plant at Water Works, Sector-39 has been installed at a total cost of Rs.11.70 Crore including 10 years O&M and the 500kWp Floating Solar Power Plant with fountains have been installed at Dhanas Lake, Chandigarh at a total cost of Rs. 3.34 crore including 10 years O&M for the plant as well as for the fountains.
These Projects have been designed and executed by CREST (Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society), UT Chandigarh and will generate minimum of 35 Lac Units(kWh) of Solar Energy per year with 20% module efficiency.
The Administrator appreciated the efforts of CREST and Forest & Wildlife Department for developing and beautifying the Dhanas Lake with the lovely fountains making it another tourist spot of the city beautiful as earlier people were only aware of Sukhna Lake. He also urged the citizens to install rooftop solar power on their residential houses, office buildings, factories, etc., so as to tap the solar energy and asked the citizens to join hands with the Administration in promoting solar power which is not only environmentally beneficial but also economically viable. God has been very kind on India that we get so much of Solar radiation, so we should make sincere efforts to tap this ultimate source of energy from every inch of space available, he said.
Smt. Kirron Kher expressed her happiness to see the lake rising to a different height with this project of floating Solar Plant along with fountains which has beautified the lake and also create mass awareness towards Solar Energy.
Sh. Dharam Pal, Adviser to the Administrator also appreciated the efforts of CREST on the inauguration of these unique floating projects that is one of its kind in north India and expressed his belief that with this pace, Chandigarh can achieve the dream target of Govt. of India to become 100% Renewable Energy powered in near future.
Sh. Debendra Dalai, Secretary, Science & Technology informed that the energy needs for all buildings and offices under the Forest Department will be met through the project installed at Dhanas Lake, Chandigarh. He further added that, 70% of the revenue generated from the 2000kWp Floating SPV Power Plant installed at Water Works, Sector- 39, Chandigarh will be deposited in Govt. treasury and balance 30% will be given to Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh.
He also informed that Chandigarh is a land locked city and rooftop solar is the only option for Green electricity generation in Chandigarh but these Floating Solar Power Plants aids in the generation of electricity while conserving valuable land space of Chandigarh and this initiative is assisting in lowering evaporation loss to accommodate water needs of twenty thousand people annually.
The function was attended by Smt. Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Governor of Punjab, Sh. Nitin Kumar Yadav, Home Secretary and Sh. Debendra Dalai, Secretary Science & Tech.& RE & CEO, CREST,Sh. Arulrajan P., IFS, Addl. CEO CREST, Chandigarh, Sqn. Ldr. Amit Tiwari and other officials of the CREST and Forest and Wildlife Department.
