Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project

About Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project:

• It is located at Omkareshwar in District Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.
• The floating power plant was developed on the backwaters of Omkareshwar dam (it is a gravity dam on the Narmada River).
• It is the biggest solar park in India and the largest floating solar project in central and north India, generating 90 MW energy.
• This project was developed under the Union Ministry of Renewable Energy.
• The project is executed by SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of SJVN, a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh.
• Project Cost: Rs. 646 crores
• It is projected to generate 196.5 million units of electricity in its initial year of operation and a cumulative 4,629.3 million units over 25 years.
• On commissioning, it will reduce 2.3 lakh tons of carbon emissions and will significantly contribute to the Government of India’s mission of net zero carbon emissions by 2070. 
• The project will also help in water conservation by reducing water evaporation.
• The project has been developed through competitive tariff bidding on Build Own and Operate basis for 25 years at a rate of Rs 3.26 per unit.

Q1: What is a gravity dam?

A gravity dam is a type of dam that relies on its own weight and mass to resist the horizontal pressure of water, thereby preventing the flow of water. These dams are constructed using concrete or masonry and are designed in such a way that their massive weight provides the stability needed to withstand the forces exerted by water.

Source: North India's largest floating solar project commissioned in MP's Omkareshwar: Minister