Hyderabad: The state government is all set to get a floating solar power plant to generate 300 megawatts at Lower Maniar dam, if all goes according to plans of Singareni Collieries Company Limited. The proposal is in line with the policy of the Revanth Reddy government to make use of the reservoirs in the state to set up solar power plants. The Lower Manair dam has been chosen to set up the first solar power plant. Though the dam is spread around 80 km, the solar plant is likely to come up roughly over one-tenth of the dam area.The floating solar power plant will reduce the land acquisition cost, besides no fuel charges involved in generating the power. The solar power plant will also drastically reduce the water evaporation in the dam in the summer season.The survey for setting up solar plants was done three years ago. After conducting several scientific studies, the engineers have identified the right place in Manair dam to set up a solar plant. Even when the dam maintains minimum water levels in peak summer seasons, the place where the plant will come up would not be having any problem.The BRS government had not acted on the project report. But after the Revanth Reddy government came to power, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka underlined the state government’s focus on alternative sources of environment friendly power instead of going ahead with conventional energy.The project is likely to cost around Rs.12,000 crore and once it is completed, it would be the largest solar power plant in the country.
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