Canal solar power project
The channel solar power project ( English Canal Solar Power Project , Gujarati નર્મદા કેનાલ ટોપ સોલાર પાવર પ્રોજેક્ટ ) created in the Indian state of Gujarat . Part of the 19,000 kilometer long Narmada sewer network is to be covered with photovoltaic modules . This produces electrical energy while reducing evaporation of water and algae growth in the sewer. It is the first project of its kind.
Challenges
In rural India, the supply of electrical energy and the supply of water are major challenges that also affect the region's economy. Water is needed for food, agriculture and livestock, and unclean drinking water is believed to be the cause of 60 percent of diseases in India. Inadequate or inconsistent water supply reduces the harvest yield and leads to hunger. Before the Narmada canal network was built, the population had to z. T. run five kilometers to the next spring.
The Narmada canal system with a total length of 19,000 km was built to provide the population with a constant and comprehensive supply of water. In contrast to long-distance water supply in Germany, for example, the channels are above ground and open. The hot, sunny and windy climate in Gujarat encourages evaporation of the water intended for the population. At the same time, algae form in the water due to the sun's rays, making the water inedible and clogging pumps, which makes repairs necessary and lowers productivity.
By covering the channels with photovoltaic modules, evaporation and algae growth are reduced at the same time.
Choice of location
The Narmada Canal Network consists of many canal arms that are of different widths. The main channels are too wide to mount the photovoltaic modules in a free-spanning manner. For this reason, narrower secondary channels were considered. In order to be able to use the solar energy optimally, the selected channel should have a north-south orientation. It was also important to have a location close to the city, where there are roads and power grid connections that can be used all year round, which reduces investment costs.
Pilot project
On April 24, 2012, Narendra Modi , Chief Minister of Gujarat, inaugurated the pilot project. The project is located on the arm of the Narmada Canal in a village in Taluka Kadi in the Mahesana (Mehsana) district.
The originally planned output of 250 kW was expanded to 1 MW. Covering with photovoltaic modules reduces the annual evaporation by around 7,000 cubic meters of drinking water. The algae growth is also reduced in the cooler water due to the cover.
Planning and construction
The contract for planning, tendering and construction (EPC contract) went to SunEdison India for 177.1 million rupees (approx. 2.65 million euros ) . The pilot project was developed by the Gujarat State Electricity Corporation ( GSEC ) with the support of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL) , which owns and maintains the sewer network.
The photovoltaic modules are mounted on 16 m long, free-spanning girders that run across the canal and are attached to both banks. 226 MEMC 280W Silvantis photovoltaic modules were installed, divided into eight blocks. The blocks contain walkways and are mounted at a distance of 15 m so that the photovoltaic modules can be cleaned. There is a gap in the middle of the beam for maintenance work on the sewer.
On the one hand, the investment costs were reduced by the fact that the system was built close to a city and thus close to an existing power grid. On the other hand, in addition to the canals, there are roads that can be used all year round, which has reduced the costs for the development. The canals and streets also have uniform technical conditions, which simplifies planning.
In the case of coal-fired power plants, according to Siemens AG, a project in the 600 ° C / 800 MW class in Germany costs € 1700 per kilowatt / 1.7 million per megawatt. In India, people are hoping for lower prices for larger projects.
Infeed into the network
According to the German lobby association Krannich Media Informationsdienste , India is promoting a feed-in tariff under the title Generation-Based Incentives Form , as well as photovoltaic systems with investment subsidies. According to this, the Indian Energy Agency (IREDA) will support each fed-in kilowatt-hour in the future with the equivalent of 0.18 euros, provided that the electricity suppliers obtain their electricity from selected systems.
Potential and other projects
There are approximately 458 km of open main canals in the Indian state of Gujarat. After completion of the SSNNL sewer network, it will cover approx. 85,000 km. If ten percent of the 19,000 km long sewer network were covered with photovoltaic modules, a photovoltaic output of 2.2 GW could be installed. At the same time, 44.5 square kilometers of land could be preserved. The reduced evaporation leads to an annual water saving of 2 million cubic meters of water, which would correspond to just over 4 million euros at German prices. The pilot project would only save around 14,000 euros per year, the additional investment costs are several times higher.
The Indian Minister for Renewable Energy, Farooq Abdullah supported the project in the press. According to Abdullah, Damodar Valley Corporation , which has 2,000 km of sewer network, will be building a similar 1 MW project.
With the Gujarat Solar Park program , 605 MW of photovoltaic capacity was installed in 2012 and a total of 856.81 MW in 2013 . The canal project is part of the Charanka Solar Park in Patan .
Web links
- Project description of the executing company SunEdison (English)
- Narendra Modi world's first canal-top solar plant in Gujarat ( Memento from August 22, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
- Solar PV Project on Narmada Canal in Gujarat to be inaugurated soon by Narendra Modi ( Memento from November 30, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
- Gujarat Solar Power Projects
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Now, Gujarat to cover Narmada canals with solar panels! . thehindubusinessline.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
- ↑ a b c d e f g Project description from SunEdison India . SunEdison. Archived from the original on July 10, 2014. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
- ↑ according to Siemens
- ↑ India Increases Subsidies for Solar Systems January 5, 2012 solar-and-wind-energy
- ^ State pulls off rare feat in reaping Sun, saving water . ExpressIndia. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
- ^ Damodar Valley to replicate Gujarat's canal-top solar plant . Business standard. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ↑ Solar boom faces challenges
