₹650 cr Morbe Dam Solar Project Tender To Be Issued Soon by NMMC

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The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) will be issuing tender for a 100 MW solar PV project at the Morbe Dam that lies in Raigad, Maharashtra. The solar power project was initially conceived in 2012 but didn’t fructify due to several reasons. It is now finally progressing after a 12-year delay.

NMMC also has plans in motion for a 1.5 MW hydro project to step-up its renewable energy use.

The solar project faced delays in the past due to various factors. This included lack of bidders’ interest. In 2016, the project was annulled by the municipal commissioner citing defects, absence of a purchase agreement with MSEDCL, and escalated power generation costs. The plans for the two RE projects were reported in September last year also.

As per reports, the new norms mandate a minimum 26% equity from the owner, NMMC in this case, for project execution. This requirement was not there in the previous tender, leading to a lack of investment planning by NMMC. Experts and IIT have been consulted to ensure optimal implementation of the state-of-the-art project. The revised tender document, aligned with new norms and requirements, will be released soon for bidding.

The Floating Solar Project

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NMMC is mulling to develop a floating solar project through PPP-model in phase wise manner. Also, the Morbe Dam area benefits from high rainfall and excellent sunlight. The floating structure ensures higher efficiency by cooling the panels with water, preventing wall weakening and rusting.

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The floating solar power and hydropower project will have a three-phase plan, starting with a 60 MW solar power installation. It will be followed by 40 MW solar installations. Upon completion, the project aims to generate 100 MW of electricity, costing approximately Rs 650 crores.

The anticipated savings for NMMC are around 40% of the regular annual electricity expenditure of Rs 120 crores. The civic body could generate additional income by selling the excess power to MSEDCL.

Recently, NMMC decided to install 101-KW rooftop solar at Vashi Hospital apart from solarizing Ghansoli school. The civic body is planning to put solar panels on the buildings owned by it to save on power bills and move towards carbon-neutral status. Solar panels will also be installed on 50 toilets of the NMMC and the work has already begun. NMMC has already solarized 10 schools out of 55 it owns.