THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Power minister M M Mani will inaugurate what is billed as the country’s largest floating solar power plant at Banasura Sagar dam in Wayanad on Monday. The installed capacity of this plant, which floats atop the reservoir of the dam, is 500 kilowatt peak. The plant consists of 1,938 solar panels of 260 watts each, a 500 KVA transformer and 17 inverters of 30 KW capacity. An anchoring mechanism that keeps the plant in place corresponding to the changing water levels of the dam is a special feature of this project, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) said.
The plant, which can generate seven lakh units a year, has cost Rs 9.25 crore to build. Thiruvananthapuram-based Adtech Systems Ltd has built the plant, the KSEB said. Kalpetta MLA C K Saseendran will preside over the function planned at the dam premises. Wayanad MP M I Shanavas will be the chief guest. The KSEB has plans to build similar plants as part of its plan to encourage the use of solar energy.