Chhattisgarh’s First 15 MW Floating Solar Plant Commissioned at Bhilai Steel Plant, Pioneering Green Energy and Low-Carbon Steel

Raipur, Chhattisgarh: In a historic milestone for Chhattisgarh, Steel Authority of India Limited and National Thermal Power Corporations’s joint venture NSPCL successfully commissioned the state’s first 15-megawatt floating solar power plant at the Maroda-1 reservoir of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP). The innovative project, spread over 80 acres and built at a cost of Rs. 111.35 crore, is expected to generate 34.25 million units of clean electricity annually, reducing the plant’s carbon footprint by 28,400 tons of CO₂ and saving 0.23 lakh tons of coal every year.

The inauguration was led by Chitta Ranjan Mohapatra, Director I/c (SAIL-BSP), and Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda, Director (Finance-SAIL), in the presence of Diwakar Kaushik, CEO (NSPCL) & Regional Executive Director (Western Region-II, NTPC), along with senior officials from CISF, BSP, and NSPCL. The ceremony featured puja rituals, unveiling of the inauguration plaque, balloon release, and sapling plantation to emphasize environmental stewardship.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Mohapatra described the project as a landmark step in supplying green energy to BSP and announced plans to replicate the initiative at the Maroda-2 reservoir. “Solar energy is a clean and eco-friendly source of power that not only reduces our carbon footprint but ensures a sustainable and greener future for generations to come,” he said.

Dr. Panda highlighted the importance of renewable energy for the steel sector, noting the industry’s environmental impact. “Solar power is abundant and green, and it must be leveraged as a critical tool in India’s and SAIL’s journey toward decarbonisation and ethical steel production. At the same time, the floating solar plant must remain resilient against extreme weather conditions such as heavy rains and storms,” he emphasized.

Diwakar Kaushik welcomed the audience and underscored the strategic significance of the project, praising the collaboration between SAIL and NSPCL. Vikas Jain (NSPCL) presented technical insights, while Sam K. Abraham, HR Officer (NSPCL), anchored the programme and Neel Kumar Sharma, GM (NSPCL) and Head of the 15 MW Project, proposed the Vote of Thanks.

The project, conceptualized by Rajiv Pandey, CGM (Power Facilities-BSP) & Director (NSPCL), and approved by Dr. Panda, was formalized through a Power Purchase Agreement on May 9, 2024, with the foundation stone laid on June 30, 2024. Executed with the support of M/s Madhav Infra Projects Ltd. and M/s Quant Solar, the plant marks a significant milestone under SAIL’s Green Steel initiative, strengthening Bhilai Steel Plant’s commitment to low-carbon, sustainable steel production.

This floating solar plant will meet BSP’s captive energy needs, conserve reservoir water by reducing evaporation, and create local employment opportunities, cementing Bhilai’s position at the forefront of India’s green energy and sustainable steel movement.