Description

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Context

Maharashtra government has announced 100 MW floating solar plant at Middle Vaitarna Dam highlighting growing adoption of renewable energy & innovative solar technologies in India.

Vaitarna Dam

Parameter	Details
Other Names	Upper Vaitarna Dam, Middle Vaitarna Dam
Location	Nashik district, Maharashtra
River	Vaitarna River (a tributary of Ulhas River)
Purpose	Drinking water supply, irrigation, hydroelectric power generation
Construction Year	1950s (Upper Vaitarna), 2012 (Middle Vaitarna)
Type of Dam	Gravity & masonry dam
Height	82 meters (Middle Vaitarna Dam)
Length	2,608 meters
Reservoir Capacity	565 million cubic meters (MCM)
Catchment Area	1,282 sq. km
Power Generation	Hydroelectric power generation capacity of 60 MW
Managed By	Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
Significance	One of Mumbai's primary sources of potable water

Vaitarna Dam System consists of three major reservoirs:

Dam	Purpose	Location
Upper Vaitarna Dam	Oldest dam in system, major supplier of water to Mumbai	Built in 1950s, on Vaitarna River
Middle Vaitarna Dam	Augments Mumbai's water supply, now a site for floating solar projects	Constructed in 2012, Nashik
Lower Vaitarna Dam	Stores & regulates excess water	Located downstream

These dams collectively supply around 1,200 MLD (million liters per day) of water to Mumbai.

Water Supply Significance:

Aspect	Details
Primary Source of Water	Mumbai’s municipal water supply (along with Bhatsa, Tansa Tulsi Lakes)
Annual Water Yield	~1,000 million cubic meters
Catchment Rainfall	Receives high monsoonal rainfall (2500–3000 mm annually)
Water Storage & Release	Helps regulate water flow, preventing floods & shortages
Drought Resistance	Crucial for water security in dry months

Floating Solar Project at Middle Vaitarna Dam:

Feature	Details
Project Name	100 MW Floating Solar Photovoltaic (FSPV) Plant
Developers	ABIL & Mahalakshmi Group
Announced On	March 2024
Technology Used	Floating Solar Panels on Reservoir Surface
Benefits	Optimizes land use by using water surface Prevents water evaporation Increases efficiency due to cooling effect of water Reduces carbon footprint
Challenges	Mooring & anchoring difficulties in fluctuating water levels High initial investment Need for robust transmission infrastructure

Ecological & Environmental Significance:

Positive Impact	Concerns
Prevents evaporation, conserving water	Disrupts aquatic ecosystems if not managed properly
Reduces land use pressure for solar farms	Risk of contamination due to panel degradation
Increases renewable energy adoption	Potential impact on migratory birds
Reduces algae growth, improving water quality	Long-term sustainability challenges in large-scale deployment

Challenges Facing Vaitarna Dam:

Issue	Details
Encroachment	Illegal settlements around reservoir threaten water quality
Pollution Risks	Industrial & domestic waste disposal near water sources
Climate Change Impact	Unpredictable monsoon patterns affecting water availability
Infrastructure Stress	Rising population pressure on Mumbai’s water resources
Siltation & Erosion	Reduces dam capacity over time
Energy Transmission	Need for upgraded transmission networks for floating solar

Floating Solar Power

Feature	Details
Definition	Floating Solar Power refers to solar photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on water surfaces, typically lakes, reservoirs, dams, or even offshore water bodies.
Purpose	Generates renewable energy while conserving land & reducing water evaporation.
Technology Used	Floating solar PV panels supported by buoyant structures, anchored with mooring systems & connected to onshore power grids.
First Developed In	Japan (2007)
Installed Capacity (2023)	Over 6 GW worldwide, with China, India & Japan leading sector.

Key Components of a Floating Solar System:

Component	Description
Solar Panels	Standard photovoltaic (PV) modules mounted on floating platforms.
Floating Platforms	High-density polyethylene (HDPE) or pontoons that support panels.
Anchoring & Mooring System	Secures floating system in place while adapting to water level fluctuations.
Inverters	Converts DC electricity from solar panels to AC electricity for grid use.
Submerged Cables	Underwater transmission lines carry power to grid.
Monitoring System	Tracks energy production & efficiency in real-time.

Types of Floating Solar Power Systems:

Type	Description
Reservoir-Based FSPV	Installed on dams, irrigation reservoirs & drinking water reservoirs (e.g., Middle Vaitarna Dam in Mumbai).
Lake-Based FSPV	Utilized on artificial or natural lakes with minimal water movement.
Offshore Floating Solar	Deployed in seas & oceans, designed to withstand waves & tides (e.g., Norway, Singapore projects).
Hybrid Hydro-Solar Plants	Combined with hydroelectric dams, allowing dual power generation (e.g., Omkareshwar Dam Project, India).

Global Floating Solar Installations:

Country	Major Projects
China	Three Gorges Floating Solar Farm (150 MW)
India	Ramagundam Floating Solar Plant (100 MW), Middle Vaitarna (100 MW planned)
Japan	Yamakura Dam Floating Solar Plant (13.7 MW)
South Korea	Saemangeum Floating Solar Farm (2.1 GW planned)
Singapore	Tengeh Reservoir Floating Solar (60 MWp)

Benefits of Floating Solar Power:

Advantage	Details
1. Land Conservation	No land usage, making it ideal for land-scarce regions.
2. Increased Efficiency	Water cools solar panels, enhancing efficiency by 5-15%.
3. Reduces Water Evaporation	Covers water surfaces, preventing up to 70% evaporation, critical in drought-prone areas.
4. Prevents Algae Growth	Reduces sunlight penetration, limiting algae blooms that degrade water quality.
5. Hybrid Renewable Energy	Works with hydroelectric dams, utilizing existing grid infrastructure.
6. Faster Deployment	Easier & quicker to install than large land-based solar farms.
7. Climate Change Mitigation	Reduces CO₂ emissions, contributing to carbon neutrality.

Challenges of Floating Solar Power:

Challenge	Explanation
1. High Initial Cost	Costs 10-15% higher than land-based solar due to specialized anchoring systems.
2. Anchoring & Mooring Complexity	Requires engineered mooring systems for fluctuating water levels.
3. Environmental Impact	Could disrupt aquatic ecosystems if poorly planned.
4. Maintenance Issues	Corrosion, biofouling & cleaning difficulties in water environments.
5. Energy Transmission	Requires underwater cables, increasing costs.

India’s Floating Solar Power Expansion:

Project	Location	Capacity
Ramagundam Floating Solar Plant	Telangana	100 MW
Kayamkulam Floating Solar Plant	Kerala	92 MW
NTPC Simhadri Floating Solar	Andhra Pradesh	25 MW
Omkareshwar Dam Floating Solar	Madhya Pradesh	600 MW (Upcoming)
Middle Vaitarna Floating Solar	Maharashtra	100 MW (Upcoming)

Policy & Regulations for Floating Solar in India:

Policy	Details
National Solar Mission (NSM)	Targets 100 GW solar capacity by 2030, including floating solar.
Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)	Governs floating solar projects through tenders & auctions.
Renewable Energy Policy 2022	Mandates 50% renewable energy by 2030.
State-Level Policies	Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Andhra Pradesh promoting floating solar.
Faster Environmental Clearances	Floating solar has lower land-related clearance requirements.

Future of Floating Solar Power:

Future Trend	Expected Impact
Large-scale adoption	India plans 10 GW floating solar capacity by 2030.
Hybrid models	Combining floating solar with hydropower & battery storage.
Offshore floating solar	Innovations in sea-based solar farms for coastal energy supply.
Lower costs	Advances in anchoring, materials & efficiency will reduce costs.
Smart grid integration	AI-driven power management for better efficiency.

For more information, please refer to IAS GYAN

Sources:

INDIAN EXPRESS

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PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Discuss potential of Floating Solar Photovoltaic (FSPV) technology in addressing India’s energy & water conservation challenges. Highlight key advantages, challenges & policy measures needed for large-scale adoption.