Kaleshwaram Project In Telangana Will Not Have Floating Solar

There will be no floating solar plants coming up in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme area in Telangana. Telangana Energy Minister G Jagadish Reddy has clarified in the State Assembly that the floating solar idea has been dropped by the state government as it was opposed by the fishermen. The project, the world’s largest lift irrigation project has created a series of reservoirs (barrages) and other storage sites.

The minister was giving a reply to a question raised by legislators G Balaraju, K Chander and K Mahesh Reddy during the Question Hour in the State Assembly. The minister held that if the floating solar panels were installed at Kaleshwaram, it would be difficult for the fishermen to maintain their livelihood as catching fish would become difficult. The fish may take shelter under the floating solar panels.

He also said that fishing activities may damage the floating solar panels. G Jagadish Reddy said that Telangana government was considering the possibility of installing solar power panels over the canals of the state.

Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme is a multi-state lift irrigation project on Godavari River that will benefit three states – Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

RE Expansion in Telangana

Replying in Telangana Assembly, the energy minister said that the total installed capacity of renewable energy in the state stands at 6,159 MW as on January 31, 2023. He said that initiatives like distributed solar tender, online application, rooftop solar connections tracking and net metering provisions have helped Telangana to emerge as a pioneer in RE capacity additions.

He also said that Telangana generated 5,748 MW of solar energy and 128 MW of wind energy in the last seven years. G Jagadish Reddy stated that the state will add about 2,500 MW of solar power in the coming two years.

The state is generating 287 MW of power through Rooftop Net Metering solar panels in commercial and residential complexes and residential households. The state is setting up rooftop net metering solar projects in more than 1500 state owned schools to bring down electricity bills of the schools.

Telangana Minister also said that wind mills expansion is not feasible in the state as conditions are not favourable. At present, Telangana has 128.10 MW of energy coming from wind mills and the state government is not encouraging it as wind power suffers with grid failure issues and fluctuations.