2016 International

CAPAM Innovations
Awards

COUNTRY INDIA
ORGANISATION GUJARAT STATE ELECTRICITY CORPORATION LIMITED
PROJECT TITLE 1 MW CANAL TOP SOLAR PLANT

“A new direction to green ,clean and inclusive energy…”

 Generation at the Door Step,
Energy Independence for the Society
“A Society must be built in which every village has to
be self-sustained and capable of managing its own
affairs.”

Mahatma Gandhi (Father of the Nation)

“My idea is to create a rural-urban connect, where

the soul is of a rural bent but with an urban touch”

Mr. Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of India)

eesolar.gsecl@gebmail.com Narmada Canal-Top 1 MW Solar Power Project 2

 Conserving Habitable Landmass & “Water” the vital Resource
for a Sustainable Future
 World has installed150 GW of Solar PV up to last year
(2014), which caters to 11% of global energy generation and
well towards a roadmap of achieving 16% i.e. 218 GW (These
218 GW would consume 4,411sq km area equivalent to the
land mass of Denmark, or 85% of that of Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago) by 2050 to reduce CO2 by 50%.
(Source: IEA World Solar PV Roadmap, 2015)

 Indian Solar Mission of achieving100 GW through solar PV

plants; shall consume an area of 2,023 sq. km, 1.5 times size
of New Delhi (1,483 sq. km).

 Substantial quantity of potable/ irrigation water gets

evaporated annually.

 The estimated rate of depletion of groundwater in

northwestern India is 4 centimeters of water per year,
equivalent to a water table decline of 33 centimeters per year.
eesolar.gsecl@gebmail.com Narmada Canal-Top 1 MW Solar Power Project 3
The INNOVATION
Necessity is the mother of Invention Innovation

Cover the canal with solar arrays to…

• Clean, green, carbon neutral emission

• Transmission loss, Strengthening grid

• Cooling effect
• Save CO2 emission by 1.28 million kg/year.

• Save land.

• Reduce water loss

• Retard algae
eesolar.gsecl@gebmail.com 1 MW Narmada Canal-Top Solar Power Project 4
Canal-Top VS. Ground-Mounted
Enduring benefits..

• Zero consumption of land

• Saves evaporation of water 9 million
litres/MW / Year
• Greater reach,
• Enhanced energy generation by 2.5 %
• No Resettlement & Rehabilitation
issues.
• Does not disturb any flora and fauna.

eesolar.gsecl@gebmail.com 1 MW Narmada Canal-Top Solar Power Project 5

 Enhanced Energy Generation

 Enhanced energy generation by 2.5 % because of cooling of solar PV module at

an average 10 °C due to evaporating of Canal water beneath the panel.
50°C 2.5%

Ground Installation Installation Over Water Body

Installation Over Water Body 40°C Gain (%) Ground Installation

eesolar.gsecl@gebmail.com 1 MW Narmada Canal-Top Solar Power Project 6

 EFFECTIVENESS
Enduring benefits: Extended Service Life and Energy Gain
(Reduced Degradation of Semiconductor)
On Ground

1 Year After 25 Year

1000 kW 975 kW 800 kW

2.5% Loss of Capacity Total 20% Loss of Capacity

1000 kW 995 kW
3.5 Year
800 kW
43 Years
On Canal <0.5% Loss of Capacity Total 20% Loss of Capacity

eesolar.gsecl@gebmail.com Narmada Canal-Top 1 MW Solar Power Project 7

Long-term Significance, declining cost trends…
Ground-mounted PV Project
20
18
16
14 Land Cost
Rs. Cr. Per MW

12 Civil Work
PV Modules
10
Module Mounting Structures
8 Inverters and Electronics
6 Evacuation Cost
Pre-op. Expenses
4
2
0
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18

Canal-top
20
PV Project
18
16
14 Civil Work
Rs. Cr. Per MW

12 PV Modules
Module Mounting
10 Structures
8 Inverters and Electronics
Evacuation Cost
6 Pre-op. Expenses
4
2
0
2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18

eesolar.gsecl@gebmail.com Narmada Canal-Top 1 MW Solar Power Project 8

 Challenges:
The understanding of these analyses changes
the perception of challenges in the field:

• Challenge-1: Module Mounting Structure

• Challenge-2: Requirement of expert
• manufacturer for Rapid
• Implementation
• Challenge-3: Lack of Prior Experience of
• Project Implementation and
• O&M What is…? Silt (sand, mud, etc.) from the
banks regularly fall in the canal,
which has to be cleaned.

How? Compact machines need to be used,

which do not hamper the desilting
process and can be easily manoeuvred
under the canal structure.

eesolar.gsecl@gebmail.com 1 MW Narmada Canal-Top Solar Power Project 9

Transferrable Lessons Learnt

Identification, formulation and implementation of the

‘Innovation’
• Replicable design of optimized solar structures for future canal-top
projects.
• Identifying most suitable stretch of canal for economic power
generation.
• Optimized solar power plant design parameters.
• Formation of policy for successful implementation of such projects
with proven administrative, financial, legal & contractual structure.

eesolar.gsecl@gebmail.com 1 MW Narmada Canal-Top Solar Power Project 10

 Valuable Insights
Significance & Sustainability
• Among all the renewable sources, solar radiation is more predictable and consistent. Helps in
better planning and scheduling.
• Proved the concept of green energy generation at the door step of farmers.
• Grid strengthening by generation at remote consumption centers.
• Reliability of power increased.
• Alternate development for the most precious and finite resource, Land.
• Saving of water by reduction in evaporation.
• Reduction in transmission and distribution losses.
• Immense interest from across the globe - Japan, Egypt, US, Africa and United Nations.
• No adverse impact on canal system - only positive impact.
• Sustainable alternative for densely populated countries.
eesolar.gsecl@gebmail.com 1 MW Narmada Canal-Top Solar Power Project 11
 Impact on the
New Govt. Policy
community
• After success of 1 MW Canal
top PV project at Sanand and 10
Citizen Centricity MW at Vadodara in Gujarat and
• Potential to develop elsewhere in India, Ministry of
under PPP mode. New and Renewable Energy
(MNRE), Government of India
• Provides reliable power has initiated Canal-top Solar
to agriculture industry Policy on 5th Dec. 2014.
during day-time.
• As per Canal-top Solar Policy,
• Better business model total 100 MW solar PV projects
compared to individual shall be installed in 12th plan
solar irrigation pump period (Year 2014-15) with an
model. estimated cost of USD 150.72
Million (INR 975 Cr.) with
• Better business model central financial assistance of
for village up to USD 35.24 Million (INR
electrification. 228 Cr.).
eesolar.gsecl@gebmail.com 1 MW Narmada Canal-Top Solar Power Project 12
 Replication Potential
• 458 km of open Main Canal in Gujarat alone!
• Plus sub-branches:
– 20,000 km already built
– Final aim: 85,000 km

• 30% of 20,000 km canal can host:

– 18,000 MW of SPV Plant.
– Hence, conserves 44,000 hectare land
– And about 16,20,000 Lakh Litres of water 1 MW Canal-top PV, Krishna River, Karnataka
every year.
• Canals in any direction can be used: East-West,
North-South, etc.
• No restriction in water flow.
• 10 MW SPV Plant on Vadodara Branch Canal and
15 MW on canal bank on Vadodara Branch is
under consideration (MNRE Approved)
• This has been replicated in the sponsoring country
and similarly can be replicated across the
Commonwealth also.
10 MW Canal-Solar Project at Vadodara.
(3,25 km Length, canal top-width 22.1m)
eesolar.gsecl@gebmail.com 1 MW Narmada Canal-Top Solar Power Project 13
THANK YOU

SOLAR
CLEAN,
GREEN
&
INCLUSIVE