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 country’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 “Ceil and Terre” 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.
“SPIC’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,” he said.
SPIC Chairman Ashwin Muthiah said, “I 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.”
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.
“We are glad to be at the forefront of India’s and Tamil Nadu’s march towards clean energy. It is an example of our ESG (environmental, social, and governance) commitment to progress towards renewable energy”, Muthiah said.
The total project cost was ₹150.4 crore of which a significant portion was attributed to the pandemic during the construction phase, the company said.
“State-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 future”, 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.
