Telangana Government Exploring Floating Solar Projects on Major Reservoirs: Dy CM Bhatti
Hyderabad, Sept 10 (TNT): The Telangana government is exploring the possibility of setting up floating solar power projects on reservoirs of major and medium irrigation projects across the state, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka said on Thursday.
Responding to questions during Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly, Bhatti said the Energy and Irrigation departments were jointly examining the feasibility of floating solar projects and a clear announcement would be made soon.
Reservoirs including Nagarjuna Sagar, Srisailam, Pulichintala, Sri Ram Sagar, Sripada Yellampalli, Devadula, Komuram Bheem, Palair, Wyra, Mallanna Sagar, Lower Manair Dam (LMD), Mid Manair and Pocharam are among those being examined, he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said floating solar projects involved higher costs compared with conventional solar power projects.
Though the Centre had announced Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of up to Rs 1 crore per MW, certain conditions under the scheme posed challenges, he said.
The Centre’s requirement to use domestically manufactured equipment was resulting in an additional burden of around Rs 1.30 crore per MW, Bhatti said, adding that relaxation of the condition could encourage greater investor participation in floating solar projects.
Despite the higher costs, the state government was taking steps to attract investors and promote floating solar power, he said.
Bhatti said the state’s peak power demand had risen sharply from around 15,000 MW when the government assumed office in December 2023 to 18,543 MW as of September 9.
The increase was being driven by industrial growth and rising purchasing power among people, he said, adding that while the higher demand reflected economic development, power generation and distribution infrastructure also needed to be strengthened.
The state government was spending around Rs 14,000 crore annually on free power supplied to agricultural pump sets, while another Rs 5,000 crore was being spent on providing free electricity of up to 200 units to around 55 lakh families, he said.
Overall, the government was bearing an annual electricity subsidy burden of nearly Rs 19,000 crore, Bhatti said.
The government was examining alternatives such as solar power and pumped-storage projects to sustain free power schemes while reducing the financial burden, he said.
As part of its renewable energy initiatives, the government was also planning a pilot project to completely solarise around 80 villages in the tribal region of Amrabad and establish a micro-grid system, Bhatti said.
Under the proposed model, solar panels would be installed on houses and electricity supplied through the micro-grid, he said.
The government was also exploring solar power generation on around 6.70 lakh acres distributed to landless and economically weaker tribal families under the Forest Rights Act, he said.
Bhatti said the government had announced the ‘Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam’ scheme to promote solarisation wherever feasible, including through floating solar projects.
Studies were also being conducted on various irrigation projects across the state, particularly in interior areas such as Kataram and Mahamutharam in the Manthani Assembly constituency, he said.
The government would make efforts to implement as many feasible floating solar projects as possible, Bhatti said.
He also urged farmers and the public to come forward and take advantage of the government’s initiatives to promote solar power generation.
The Deputy Chief Minister appealed to MLAs to create awareness among farmers in their respective villages and encourage them to submit applications for setting up solar power projects.
TNT TS
