Floating solar: Bright solution to Kerala’s energy crisis

The biggest challenge facing the entire world in modern times is the energy crisis. The world has increasingly been using natural fuels for the past century. They will not continue to be available in the same quantities as before. Today or tomorrow, natural fuels will become depleted. Therefore, various countries are pursuing alternative ways to solve the energy crisis. The number of electric vehicles running on batteries instead of petrol and diesel is increasing on the road. The number of electrical appliances in every home has increased. All of this depends on electricity. In short, the use of electricity is increasing with each passing day, not decreasing.

Our traditional method is to generate electricity from water. Due to opposition from environmentalists and others, a situation exists in which it is no longer possible to start a large hydroelectric project in Kerala. The electricity generated from wind does not meet even a small percentage of our consumption. All developed countries are giving top priority to generating electricity using nuclear power. But setting up nuclear power plants will also face huge opposition. Moreover, its technology is complex. So, the reliance upon solar plants to solve this energy crisis is much welcome, and the cost of setting them up is also relatively low. The electricity required for the Nedumbassery International Airport was able to be generated fully by the installation of solar plants.

In this model, all large institutions are turning to solar to meet their electricity needs. The State Electricity Board's preparations to install floating solar on dams are certainly a timely and commendable step. The daily electricity consumption in the state is 5200 MW. The production from hydroelectric projects is 2096 MW. Currently, 415 MW is being generated from solar. That is, there is a huge gap between our electricity production and consumption. To overcome this, we have to buy electricity from grids in other states at high prices. Due to this, the electricity bill is becoming beyond the reach of the common man.

As a solution to this, if floating solar panels can be installed in dams, barren areas, lakes, backwaters, etc. with private participation, 6000 MW of electricity can be generated daily. This is stated in the study done by the Electricity Department itself. If this happens, Kerala will be able to get its required electricity from solar alone. The surplus electricity can also be sold to other states. Along with this, if a large percentage of individual consumers rely on solar panels for electricity generation, the state's electricity crisis will be completely solved.