SJVN, NHDC, AMP Energy to Develop 300 MW Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project
Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN), Narmada Hydroelectric Development Corporation (NHDC), and Toronto-based AMP Energy have won contracts from Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Ltd. (RUMSL) to develop a 300 MW floating solar project in Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh on a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis.
Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) was method was used for selection of successful bidders.
The project is envisaged to eventually have a generating capacity of 600 MW.
Details of the Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project
The 300 MW floating solar capacity on the Omkareshwar reservoir is being developed in blocks of 100 MW each.
Each of AMP Energy, NHDC and SJVN have won contracts for development of 100 MW. While AMP Energy quoted a tariff of Rs 3.21/KWh, NHDC won with a quoted tariff of Rs 3.22/KWh, while SJVN won the contract for the remaining 100 MW capacity at a quoted tariff of Rs 3.26/KWh.
RUMSL shall sign the Power Purchase Agreements with the successful bidders once it issues respective Letters of Intent.
Rewa Ultra will provide infrastructure for evacuation of solar power from the floating solar project. For this purpose, PGCIL has agreed to provide Power Management Control (PMC) for internal power evacuation infrastructure. For external evacuation, Khandwa Inter-State Transmission Scheme (ISTS) substation shall be used.
This project will begin operations by 2024.
Brief Background of RUMSL and Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project
Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Ltd. (RUMSL) was formed in 2015 as a joint venture between Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and Madhya Pradesh UrjaVikas Nigam Limited (MPUVN). Since then, RUMSL has been the designated a Solar Power Park Developer (SPPD) to develop large-scale solar parks in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
The Omkareshwar floating solar project was first proposed in 2019 and was later planned to be expanded into a 600 MW floating solar project. RUMSL rolled out a tender for the Omkareshwar floating solar project in November 2021. It was set to be the world’s largest floating solar project until Singapore’s Sunseap announced its plans for a 2.2 GW floating solar park in 2021.
An Overview of Floating Solar Power Projects in India
Floating Solar power projects have been gaining popularity in India. The country’s reservoirs cover about 18,000 sq Km of area, which has a floating solar potential of 280 GW, according to The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
Floating Solar Projects, though, come with their own set of pros and cons.
As of now, India has about 170 MW of floating solar generation capacity, while about 1.8 GW of floating solar capacity is under various stages of development. At present, India’s largest commissioned floating solar project is located in NTPC’s Simhadri thermal power station reservoir, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, with a capacity of 25 MW.