The Union Cabinet has approved the PM Surya Sarovar Yojana. Notably, the scheme has a total outlay of ₹5,070 crore. Moreover, it will develop 5,000 MW of floating solar photovoltaic projects. Each project will also have co-located energy storage.
Key Features of PM Surya Sarovar Yojana
- Outlay: ₹5,070 crore
- Floating solar capacity: 5,000 MW
- Energy storage: 10,000 MWh
- Storage duration: At least two hours
In other words, every megawatt of solar will come with storage for at least two hours.
What Is Floating Solar?
Floating solar means solar panels placed on water bodies. For example, they can sit on reservoirs, lakes and dam backwaters. The panels float on special platforms. Hence, they do not need large areas of land.
Benefits of Floating Solar
Floating solar offers several benefits. First, it saves valuable land for farming and forests. Second, water cools the panels, so they work more efficiently. Third, the panels reduce evaporation from reservoirs. Also, many dams already have grid connections nearby. Therefore, power can reach the grid easily.
Why Storage Matters
Solar power is available only during the day. However, electricity demand peaks in the evening. So, batteries store daytime solar power for later use. As a result, the grid becomes more stable and reliable.
India’s Floating Solar Examples
India already has some large floating solar plants. For instance, the Omkareshwar project in Madhya Pradesh is among the biggest. Similarly, NTPC runs floating plants at Ramagundam in Telangana. Thus, the new scheme will scale up this proven model.
Link With India’s Clean Energy Goals
India aims for 500 GW of non-fossil power capacity by 2030. Also, it targets net-zero emissions by 2070. Hence, floating solar with storage supports both goals.
Why PM Surya Sarovar Yojana Matters for UPSC and UKPSC
Notably, renewable energy schemes are a regular GS Paper III topic. So, remember the outlay, capacity and storage figures. Also, list the benefits of floating solar. For official updates, also visit the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Next, for a related story, read about the GOBARdhan compressed biogas scheme.
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