NTPC to begin Feasibility Study for 130 MW Floating Solar Power Plant in Tripura

Maharatna PSU National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd will begin a feasibility study for a 130 MW floating solar power plant on Dumbur Lake in Tripura's Gomati district, an official said on Monday. In the past five years, the northeastern state has increased solar power energy from 4.07 MW to 7.21 MW with the government trying hard to increase renewable energy in a big way.

Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NTPC to carry out the feasibility study for the floating power plant. NTPC operates a 100-MW floating solar power project at Ramagundam in Telangana.

Under the study, the NTPC will examine the area of the waterbody required to be taken up for the plant, identification of local transfer stations and forest clearance for setting up the state's first renewable energy plant, TREDA Joint Director Debabrata Sukladas said. He said that the NTPC is expected to complete the feasibility study which will cost Rs 4.50 billion in a couple of months.

"The proposed 130-MW floating power plant is important for the state's aim of producing 200 MW solar energy by 2030. The state's average solar power energy's potentiality stands at 2080 MW. The TREDA, Tripura State Electricity Corporation (TSECL), and the Tripura Power Generation Company - all are trying hard to tap the solar power energy potential of the state," Sukladas said.