Renewable Energy

SPICโ€™s captive floating solar power plant in TN goes on stream

A captive floating solar power plant set up by the agri-nutrient and fertilisers company Southern Petrochemicals Industries Corporation Ltd, popularly known as SPIC Ltd, formally went on stream at Tuticorin on Monday.

Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated the unit, which is claimed to be the countryโ€™s first and largest floating power plant in Tamil Nadu.

The state-of-the-art 25.3 megawatts DC/22 megawatts AC floating solar power plant was one of the initiatives of AM International Holdings Ltd, Singapore to optimise energy production on a sustainable basis in industrial plants.

SPIC Ltd is part of the AM International Holdings Ltd, Singapore.

According to company officials, the floating solar projects provide higher yield than traditional land-based solar plants enhancing energy generation and saving water from getting evaporated.

The floating solar power plant is owned by Greenam Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AM International. SPIC Ltd worked with France-based floating solar power specialists and global leader โ€œCeil and Terreโ€ to design, engineer and anchor the floating islands and the supply floats.

EDAC Engineering Ltd., another company of the AM International Group, took up the construction activities.

Chief Minister M K Stalin said the demand for clean power was the need of the hour, and Tamil Nadu currently holds the capacity to generate more than 15,500 MW of renewable energy.

โ€œSPICโ€™s floating solar power plant project is a welcome move towards industries in the state using renewable energy resources. Innovations like this are milestones towards achieving the goal of making Tamil Nadu a leader in renewable energy,โ€ he said.

SPIC Chairman Ashwin Muthiah said, โ€œI thank Chief Minister M K Stalin for inaugurating the solar power plant project. SPIC is continuously working towards effectively harnessing green energies through innovative projects to reduce carbon footprint.โ€

On the arrival of the high-profile delegation, SPIC Whole-Time Director S R Ramakrishnan welcomed Stalin and did a walk through of the plant.

โ€œWe are glad to be at the forefront of Indiaโ€™s and Tamil Naduโ€™s march towards clean energy. It is an example of our ESG (environmental, social, and governance) commitment to progress towards renewable energyโ€, Muthiah said.

The total project cost was โ‚น150.4 crore of which a significant portion was attributed to the pandemic during the construction phase, the company said.

โ€œState-of-the-art project marks a significant achievement in the space of solar-generated energy development. It further establishes our focus on using renewable energy to build a sustainable futureโ€, he said.

The floating solar power plant would generate more energy as water facilitates a cooling effect leading to a higher yield. The project would also help the environment by curbing water evaporation in the reservoir by 60%, the company said.

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