Visakhapatnam: For the first time in History, the Simadhari Super Thermal Power Plant of NTPC  became the first power plant in the country to successfully commission a floating solar power project.

The Maharatna company said they had commissioned a 10 MW- project a few days ago. "This is a unique feat as we have commissioned the first phase despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic," a senior official of NTPC told Bizz Buzz on Friday.

In 2019, it was proposed to install a floating solar project to be developed in a man-made Raw Water Reservoir spread over 150 acres at NTPC Simhadri at Parawada under Vizag city limits which were successfully connected to the southern grid and declared commercial.

In 2019, it was proposed to install a floating solar plant on the reservoir without affecting the bund by providing first-of-its-kind anchor ropes from all sides. The project was awarded to BHEL on an EPC basis with a cost of Rs.110 crore that was to be completed in 15 months.

Due to COVID-19, the Floating Solar Project faced several difficulties like equipment supplies and manpower mobilization. Beating all odds, NTPC Simhadri completed the 10MW of the total 25 MW.

The first 10MW of the Floating Solar Project is the single largest installation in India as of date. It is an engineering marvel with unique anchoring and mooring techniques. The power evacuation from this project is through dedicated cabling from the reservoir to plant switchgear at 33KV level.

Diwakar Kaushik of NTPC Simhadri said works on the remaining 15 MW are in full swing and it is expected that the next  15MW will be added by August 2021.

Further, NTPC  Limited is also developing another 100MW Floating Solar  Project in NTPC Ramagundam, Telangana. This will be India’s largest floating solar Installation once commissioned.