Kerala's green cover renders solar canals impossible

THIRUVANANTHPAURAM: Augmenting the state’s solar capacity by at least 300 MW is one of LDF government’s top priorities. The canal-top solar project, an attempt to recreate Narendra Modi’s success story in Gujarat, was an innovative concept that was put to test by KSEB Limited. Though the idea flickered brightly, it soon fizzled out. A series of spot studies and analysis have revealed that only one of the canals associated with KSEB Limited’s innumerable hydroelectric power projects are suitable for the installation of 1-10 MW power projects.

In this case, the state’s green cover has turned out to be its bane. In fact two power channels were initially identified; at Barapole Small hydroelectric project in Kannur and Vilangad small HEP in Kozhikode. However, the presence of overgrowing plantations and other types of flora have ruled out Vilangad. “The shadow analysis, development index of inhabitants and evolution of main cultivations such as rubber, cashew and pepper at the periphery of the canals were assessed and it was found that only Barapole will be feasible," a top KSEBL official said.

As a consequence, the project has been revised thus: 2 MW power project on top of power canal of Barapole SHEP and 1 MW power project at canal bank of the power canal at Barapole SHEP. The total cost estimated for the canal top/canal bank scheme is Rs 35 crore. The Canal Solar Power Project is a project launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he was chief minister of Gujarat in 2012.

The plan was to use 19,000 kilometre long network of Narmada canals across the state for setting up solar panels to generate electricity. “Though we have numerous canals, most of them pass through shade areas and fall in the shadow of tropical evergreen hills, which are unsuitable for a solar generation,” the KSEBL official said. The irrigation canals of the Narmada Project, on the other hand, pass through dry barren lands; ideal for solar generation.