India is making great strides in harnessing renewable energy to meet its growing power demands and combat environmental challenges. Among the innovative solutions emerging in this journey, floating solar projects stand out as a game-changer.
Ciel & Terre India, a subsidiary of the renowned French floating solar leader, Ciel & Terre International, has recently marked a historic milestone by completing a 10.765MWp Floating Solar Plant for Tata Steel in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. This remarkable project is not only India’s first floating solar installation within a steel power plant but also a testament to the industry’s resilience in the face of challenges.
Supporting Make in India
The project utilized 19,936 numbers of ‘Made in India’ Hydrelio® aiR 1440 floats, which were carefully installed on industrial water body. To maximize energy production, Jinergy PV panels were installed in a 4-row configuration with pure south tilt. The plant is comprising of two segments, each with an array island capacity of 5.44 MWp, resulting in a cumulative capacity of 10.765 MWp. The Hydrelio® aiR 1440 floats were designed to withstand maximum wind speed as per IS 875 Part III, a crucial factor given the project’s location.
Unique challenges
The Tata Steel Jamshedpur project presented unique challenges right from the start. It is an industrial water body in which the floating solar plant to be installed, Sub bottom soil is a sludge accumulation which is a difficult condition for conventional anchoring methods. The expert team at Ciel & Terre India overcame this obstacle with innovative unique Dead Weight Anchoring. Enormous concrete blocks were prepared and deployed in the water to provide stability for the floats, ensuring they remained stationary even in the presence of strong winds and waves. Material selection for such industrial areas with contaminated water is key factor to withhold the entire system for next 25 years.
The project covered a total area of 42 acres, with over 19 acres dedicated to float placement. This remarkable feat equated to nearly 45 per cent coverage of the water body, demonstrating the project’s commitment to efficient space utilization.
Floating solar potential
Thee Tata Steel Jamshedpur project underscores the potential of floating solar technology to address the energy needs of industrial facilities, particularly in raw water bodies. Beyond meeting Tata Steel’s energy requirements, the project showcases the environmental and social benefits of sustainable energy generation.
Ciel & Terre India’s dedication to the renewable energy sector extends beyond this project. With 260MWp projects already under the portfolio, the company’s impact on India’s energy landscape is undeniable. Their footprint stretches across multiple states, including Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Tata Steel and Tata Power Solar for their unwavering support and collaboration throughout the execution of this remarkable project.
Significant milestone
Deepak Ushadevi, MD & CEO, Ciel & Terre India, said, “Implementing a captive project such as this will provide the industry with competitive prices compared to the grid. The same model can be replicated for other industrial reservoirs such as thermal, fertilizers, cement, chemicals, etc. Ciel & Terre® has gained extensive expertise and strong experience in installing large-scale floating PV plants on artificial and freshwater reservoirs over the years. Our team is proficient in comprehending the challenges of floating PV and the realization of this floating plant marks a significant milestone in India’s quest for renewable energy with a sustainable and effective energy solution. This project highlights the potential transformation of floating solar in India’s energy landscape, Ciel & Terre India’s growing portfolio offers the possibility of a brighter and cleaner tomorrow”.
