Round the corner: Solar power stations floating on your lakes
Soon, you may see solar power being generated by power generating units floating on the city's lakes and water bodies. And this will be the first time that such a project will be undertaken in India.
An initiative was kick-started on Tuesday through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Bangalore-based energy and environment consultancy, Enzen Global Solutions (EGS) Pvt Ltd, and France-based Ciel et Terre (C&T).
It looks at bringing floating units using solar photovoltaic technology that can generate 1 to 50 MW of power. It also claims to improve the quality of water in the lake, pond or irrigation tanks on which these projects will be set up.
"We need to explore alternative energy sources. This technology is innovative, combining solar power generation with water treatment. Vast water resources such as lakes, irrigation tanks and industrial reservoirs can be used for this," Uma Rajarathnam, associate vice president, EGS Pvt Ltd, said.
According to PV Magazine, which focuses on photovoltaic market and technology, besides solar power generation, this technology which is already in use in some western countries, is known to reduce the evaporation of water by up to 70%; minimise the growth of algae by providing shade from sunlight by the solar panels; and provide a quicker alternative to harsh chemical treatment of water.
In doing so, it is known to lower the temperature of the water while improving power output from the solar panels.
"We are looking at Karnataka to begin with, including Bangalore. We need to assess the feasibility, identify the polluted lakes and water bodies and also identify and consult stakeholders, which include the civic agencies that we will have to deal with to take up these projects," said Rajarathnam, who heads the clean energy and environment division of EGS Pvt Ltd.
However, environmentalist and member of Lake Development Authority (LDA) and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), AN Yellappa Reddy, is not so sure about the safety of this new technology. "Power stations floating on lakes may have hostile implications. The shade over the lake will not allow direct sunlight to enter the waters. Water bodies in the lake need sunlight to produce oxygen. The minimum standard of dissolved oxygen has to be above five, which will not be produced," he said.
The companies will also have to take extra precautions to ensure that no leakage of lead from batteries takes place. "If that happens, it can prove disastrous. The company will have to take appropriate permits from the agencies concerned, including KSPCB before they can set up something like this," he said.The first-of-its kind project also aims to improve water quality in the lakes, ponds or irrigation tanks
Soon, you may see solar power being generated by power generating units floating on the city's lakes and water bodies. And this will be the first time that such a project will be undertaken in India.
An initiative was kick-started on Tuesday through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Bangalore-based energy and environment consultancy, Enzen Global Solutions (EGS) Pvt Ltd, and France-based Ciel et Terre (C&T).
It looks at bringing floating units using solar photovoltaic technology that can generate 1 to 50 MW of power. It also claims to improve the quality of water in the lake, pond or irrigation tanks on which these projects will be set up.
"We need to explore alternative energy sources. This technology is innovative, combining solar power generation with water treatment. Vast water resources such as lakes, irrigation tanks and industrial reservoirs can be used for this," Uma Rajarathnam, associate vice president, EGS Pvt Ltd, said.
According to PV Magazine, which focuses on photovoltaic market and technology, besides solar power generation, this technology which is already in use in some western countries, is known to reduce the evaporation of water by up to 70%; minimise the growth of algae by providing shade from sunlight by the solar panels; and provide a quicker alternative to harsh chemical treatment of water.
In doing so, it is known to lower the temperature of the water while improving power output from the solar panels.
"We are looking at Karnataka to begin with, including Bangalore. We need to assess the feasibility, identify the polluted lakes and water bodies and also identify and consult stakeholders, which include the civic agencies that we will have to deal with to take up these projects," said Rajarathnam, who heads the clean energy and environment division of EGS Pvt Ltd.
However, environmentalist and member of Lake Development Authority (LDA) and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), AN Yellappa Reddy, is not so sure about the safety of this new technology. "Power stations floating on lakes may have hostile implications. The shade over the lake will not allow direct sunlight to enter the waters. Water bodies in the lake need sunlight to produce oxygen. The minimum standard of dissolved oxygen has to be above five, which will not be produced," he said.
The companies will also have to take extra precautions to ensure that no leakage of lead from batteries takes place. "If that happens, it can prove disastrous. The company will have to take appropriate permits from the agencies concerned, including KSPCB before they can set up something like this," he said.The first-of-its kind project also aims to improve water quality in the lakes, ponds or irrigation tanks
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