DVC : Renewable Energy Expansion

By S. Suresh Kumar, IAS | Chairman | Damodar Valley Corporation

Solar PV Projects

Commissioned: 13.923 MW

To date, DVC has commissioned Solar PV Plants with a total capacity of 13.92 MW. This includes 3.92 MWp of Rooftop Solar (RTS) Plants installed on the rooftops of buildings at DVC Thermal Power Stations and its headquarters in Kolkata. A 10 MW Ground-Mounted Solar PV (GM-SPV) Plant was successfully commissioned & declared COD w.e.f. March, 2024 at KTPS, Koderma, Jharkhand.

Under Execution: 56 MW

Solar PV projects which are under execution include a)8 MW GM SPV at Panchet – expected completion by January 2025, b) 30 MW Floating Solar PV (FSPV) at three TPS reservoirs: expected Completion – March 2025, c) 8 MW GM-SPV at Konar – expected completion by June 2025,and d) 10 MWp Rooftop Solar project on DVC’s own Buildings – expected completion by September 2025.

Under Tendering Stage: 244 MW

The RE projects which are under tendering stage include (a) 10 MW Floating Solar at CTPS, and (b) 234 MW Floating Solar PV at Maithon Dam Reservoir.

Under Engineering & Planning Stage: 876 MW (to be implemented by FY-30)

The following projects are under active consideration and are planned for implementation by FY-30.

1. 350 MW FSPV (Phase-II) at Maithon Dam Reservoir​
   1. 250 MW GM-SPV at Barhi​, Jharkhand
   1. 8 MW FSPV at DSTPS​, Durgapur, West Bengal
   1. 40 MW GM-SPV at Panagarh​, West Bengal
   1. 228 MW FSPV at Konar Dam Reservoir, Jharkhand​

Through JVC, GVREL (a joint venture between DVC and NTPC-GEL): 755 MW

In addition to the above Projects, Solar PV projects are being implemented through GVREL at Tilaiya and Panchet Dam Reservoirs and nearby areas. These include a) 310 MW [155 MW (105 MW Floating solar + 50 MW GM solar) at Panchet and 155 MW Floating solar at Tilaiya] – expected completion by December 2025, and b) 445 MW Floating Solar PV at Tilaiya (under tendering stage).

Battery-based Energy Storage System (BESS)

DVC plans to establish BESS projects with a capacity of 500 MW/1000 MWh in phases by FY-30. In phase-I, 250 MW/500 MWh BESS Project shall be implemented at Maithon.

Action Plan on Energy Efficiency

DVC has initiated the replacement of old conventional fans with energy-efficient BLDC fans to reduce energy consumption in buildings. A total of 20,000 five-star-rated BLDC fans have already been procured and replacement is under progress at different locations of DVC.

Besides above, DVC has also initiated the replacement of old ACs with 5-Star rated Energy Efficient ACs in phases.

Promotion of e-Mobility

To promote the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs), DVC has successfully installed five EV charging stations across its project locations.

(Shilpa Bichitra | Special Edition | 2024)