C’garh’s 1st floating solar plant inaugurated at BSP

 

 

 

Bhilai witnessed a landmark moment on Tuesday, with the inauguration of Chhattisgarh’s first floating solar power project. The 15-megawatt capacity Floating Solar Plant, set up by NSPCL in collaboration with SAIL and NTPC, was commissioned at the Maroda-1 Reservoir of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP). The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior officials and dignitaries from SAIL, NTPC, NSPCL, and CISF. The event began with the unveiling of the inauguration plaque, traditional rituals, and release of balloons, symbolising a cleaner and greener future. Dignitaries also planted saplings on the occasion, underscoring the project’s message of environmental conservation. Spread across 80 acres of the reservoir and built at a cost of Rs. 111.35 crore, the project will generate around 34.25 million units of clean electricity annually.

 

This power will be used by Bhilai Steel Plant as captive energy, reducing about 28,400 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and saving nearly 23,000 tons of coal each year. The plant will also help conserve water by reducing evaporation and create new employment opportunities in the region. In his address, Director In-charge of Bhilai Steel Plant Chitta Ranjan Mohapatra called the project a landmark step in supplying green energy to the plant. He announced that after the successful performance of this project, a similar initiative would be launched at the Maroda-2 reservoir. “Solar energy is eco-friendly and will ensure a cleaner, greener, and sustainable future,” he said. Director (Finance-SAIL) Ashok Kumar Panda congratulated the teams and highlighted the importance of renewable energy in reducing the steel sector’s environmental impact. He emphasized that floating solar plant must be kept resilient to withstand challenges such as heavy rains and storms.

 

NSPCL CEO Diwakar Kaushik spoke of the significance of this collaboration and its role in promoting renewable energy. Technical details of the project were presented by Vikas Jain of NSPCL. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Neel Kumar Sharma, GM (NSPCL) and Head of 15 MW project. Conceptualised by Rajiv Pandey, CGM (Power Facilities-BSP) & Director (NSPCL), the project was approved in 2024 and implemented with support from Madhav Infra Projects Ltd. and Quant Solar. This floating solar initiative is part of SAIL’s Green Steel campaign, strengthening BSP’s commitment to sustainable growth and reduced carbon footprint.