Bengaluru: The Minor Irrigation Minister, N S Boseraju, has announced plans to install floating solar panels on 40 lakes across the state of Karnataka. This innovative move is aimed at increasing electricity production without the need for additional land.
Four lakes in Bengaluru Urban have been identified for this project, including Bagalur Lake, Singanayakanahalli Lake, Jigani Doddakere, and Muttanallur Amanikere.
Boseraju stated that these lakes have the potential to generate 2,500 megawatts of power, utilizing their 10,000-acre area. Apart from generating solar power, the initiative aims to reduce electricity costs on lift irrigation projects.
While the installation costs of floating solar panels may be high, they offer a sustainable and land-saving solution for solar power generation. Boseraju has instructed the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL) to organize a meeting to evaluate the feasibility of this initiative.
In a separate meeting, Boseraju discussed allowing commercial activities on lakes to generate additional revenue. By opening up lakes for such activities, the government can offset electricity costs and increase overall revenue.
Published 13 July 2024, 02:07 IST