West Kallada Floating Solar Project: Pioneering Green Energy in Kerala

The West Kallada Floating Solar Project is Kerala's first initiative to generate electricity by installing a solar power plant on uncultivable swamp land with farmer participation. With a power generation capacity of 50 MW, this project is a significant development for the residents of Kallada. Landowners will receive three percent of the electricity income from this venture.Jointly designed and implemented by the state government and KSEB Limited, the project aims to increase domestic energy production and promote green energy, contributing to the state's net zero carbon target. The project spans approximately 300 acres of privately owned land in West Kallada village, Kunnathur taluk, which has become unfit for cultivation due to silt and sand mining. The West Kallada project ensures a steady income for landowners by establishing West Kallada Non-Conventional Energy Promoters Private Limited (WKNCEPPL), which holds the land use rights for the project.The National Hydropower Corporation (NHPC) has received approval from the Union Ministry of New Renewable Energy (MNRE) to implement the project. Following the lease agreement between NHPC and WKNCEPPL, a direct agreement will transfer the required private land to the project. KSEB will purchase the electricity generated at a rate of 3 rupees 4 paise, or the rate fixed by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. The draft Power Purchase Agreement between KSEB and NHPC will be submitted to the State Electricity Regulatory Commission for approval. Landowners are expected to start receiving income in 2026.The state government and KSEB Ltd. are jointly working on multiple projects to boost renewable energy production in Kerala. These include the PM Kusum solar project for additional farmer income from agricultural land, floating solar projects in water bodies to overcome space limitations, high-capacity wind power plants, and battery energy storage systems to store excess green energy for peak hour use. These initiatives have contributed to Kerala achieving an impressive 1100 MW solar installed capacity.