Which Indian state hosts the world’s largest floating solar power plant, operational since 2023?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
Madhya Pradesh
Explanation
Madhya Pradesh hosts the world’s largest floating solar power plant project, located at the Omkareshwar Dam reservoir on the Narmada River in the Khandwa district. Designed to reach a massive ultimate capacity of 600 MW, the project began commissioning its initial blocks and phase-1 components dynamically in 2023.
The project is built entirely over the water surface of the reservoir. This engineering method successfully addresses land scarcity challenges and prevents the acquisition of fertile agricultural or forest lands. Additionally, covering the water body with photovoltaic arrays provides mutual environmental benefits: the water naturally cools the solar panels to increase their energy generation efficiency, while the panels reduce intense sunlight exposure to prevent massive amounts of water evaporation from the reservoir annually.
Key Points
The infrastructure and power evacuation facilities for this massive multi-phase green energy hub are managed by Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL), a joint venture operating within the state.
Before the partial activation of the Omkareshwar project, the 100 MW floating solar project developed by NTPC at Ramagundam in Telangana was celebrated as India's largest operational floating solar installation.
The mega-scale project aligns with India’s broader climate commitments to transition toward sustainable power alternatives and drastically curb greenhouse gas emissions to achieve net-zero targets by 2070.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: On which river and dam reservoir is the world's largest floating solar power plant constructed?
Answer: The floating solar plant is constructed on the reservoir of the Omkareshwar Dam built across the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh.
Question: What is a distinct hydrological advantage of installing solar panel structures over water reservoirs rather than on open land?
Answer: It significantly prevents water loss caused by evaporation and uses the natural cooling properties of water to keep the solar panels at an optimal temperature, thereby increasing their electrical output