Madhya Pradesh to install solar panels on canals, following Gujarat

Madhya Pradesh is advancing its renewable energy goals, planning to follow Gujarat’s lead in installing solar panels on canals. The Department of New and Renewable Energy is exploring this approach as part of a strategy to boost clean energy production.

The state achieved a major milestone with the launch of a 278 MW floating solar plant at Omkareshwar and plans to generate 1400 MW from floating solar plants soon. Now, the focus is on the state’s vast canal network.

Following Gujarat’s successful canal solar projects, Madhya Pradesh aims to install solar panels on its extensive canal system, which spans about 40,000 kilometers, including 16,000 kilometers of paved canals. A team of officials under the direction of Minister Rakesh Shukla will soon travel to Gujarat to study its canal solar project and determine whether it is appropriate for the canal network in Madhya Pradesh.

Canal-based solar power began in 2012 in Gujarat, with India’s first solar canal pilot project along the Narmada River’s 532 km canal network near Chandrasan village in Mehsana district. This project has expanded steadily and serves as a model for other states.

Madhya Pradesh has pioneered solar energy development in India. The state’s first single-site solar park, with a capacity of 750 MW, was inaugurated in Rewa district in 2020. The park covers 1,590 hectares and has become a model for large-scale solar installations.

Madhya Pradesh has significant potential for floating solar energy. A 2020 report by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) ranks Madhya Pradesh among India’s top states for floating solar power, with an estimated 31 GW potential from reservoirs covering 18,000 square kilometres. A 2020-21 study found the Omkareshwar Dam can generate 600 MW, Johila Dam (250 MW), and Indira Sagar in Khandwa (600 MW) also showed potential.

"We're considering installing solar panels on our canal systems," said Rakesh Shukla. "After the Gujarat visit, we'll conduct a feasibility study to understand the benefits and challenges of implementing this system in our state."

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