Solar Panel

Northeast’s first floating solar platform
Despite substantial progress since independence, the residents of Thanagara village

have never been connected to the national power grid. The village is located under
Bhurbandha gaon panchayat, in the Morigaon district, located less than 200
kilometers from Guwahati.
The dream of getting electricity in the village was turned into a reality by using
solar energy through the initiative of government and non-governmental
organizations.
The technology of Floating Solar Platform is an innovative way to harness
abundant solar rays falling on water bodies and to conserve precious water. This
initiative has provided electricity to the village 24x7, besides; the panels over the
water are helping increase the number of fishes in water bodies. So, it boosted
fishermen’s income and the development of rural economy vastly.
The solar power plant has also helped to energize very small scale entrepreneurial
activities like shops, mobile charging, computer kiosks as well as charging of e-
rickshaws. The installation of the 10kw solar project, 20 households of the villages
have started receiving 24 hours of electricity. Besides, 15 street lights were
installed in different corners of the village.
The project has been developed by Quant Solar, which is an India based clean
technology company, incubated in IIT Guwahati with focus on technologies
pertaining to renewable energy, water conservation and air purification, and the
AEDA is an agency under the Assam Science and Technology department.
Sanjay Konwar, a local fisherman has managed to boost his income proportion for
the solar project. This Floating Solar Platform had been erected his own pond, he
also set upped an ‘Aeration Modules’ machine there.
The solar plant has been providing aeration facility to the fishing pond for
enhancing dissolved oxygen content of the water and thereby increase fish
production as well as decontaminates the pond water and is an innovative way to
harness abundant solar rays falling on water bodies and to conserve precious water
On the other hand, large numbers of bamboo have been used to construct the
walking platforms for the solar project over the pond and that helped local bamboo
entrepreneurs to generate a good sum of money. It is also an illustration of self-
employment.
“This integration can improve the utilization of people’s lands and fish ponds, as
well as increasing people’s income. Specifically, people can these panels over the
surface of their fish ponds to generate electricity for daily use or sell it to the
national grid, while breed aquatic products in their fish ponds as usual.” : Mrinal
Krishna Choudhury, Additional Director of Assam Energy Development Agency
(AEDA).
Besides, the panels over the water surfaces can create an ideal living environment
for the fishes that love dim light and low water temperature. So the covering of
panels will help increase the number of fishes in water bodies.
Dr. Arup Kumar Misra, the Director Assam Science Technology & Environment
Council said “This project has succeeded to create revolution. Such decentralized
projects could play an important role in providing electricity in remote villages.
The Government of Assam also appreciated the endeavor and planned to establish
at least 10 projects in the state. The government has already sanctioned a total of1
cr. fund for the proposed panels. Government will spend almost 12 lakh 50
thousand for each solar plant. It will generate 10.5 KW electricity.
The first ‘Floating solar Platform’ of Northeastern region has brought ray of hope
for the Bhurbandha villagers as well as the entire state. The young generation also
can make money through Internet café. Solar power has extended this facility
also… “There were no employment opportunities in the villages, also because of
its geographical location, no industry comes here. But, a few villagers have
planned to set up micro level industries- like incense sticks manufacturing in the
village”: said Bhupen Chandra Deka, president of the Bhurbandha village
panchayat.
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Northeast’s first floating solar platform

Despite substantial progress since independence, the residents of Thanagara village

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