Jharkhand is set to have 2 MW of green power to the grid with the installation of its first grid-connected canal-top solar power project over the Sikidiri canal. This project is a small step toward Niti Aayog's ambitious goal of installing 1,995 MW of solar power by 2022. Jharkhand has consistently failed to meet its Renewable Power Obligation (RPO) over the years. The canal-top solar power project, which is being built over the Sikidiri canal in Ranchi district, 20 km from the state capital, is expected to start construction this month and be operational in January 2022. To address the land shortage for photovoltaic (PV) solar panel installation, the state government has focused on canal-top solar power projects. In terms of cost and availability, finding land to install solar panels is a major challenge. Sinha said that around 750 m of the canal would be covered by PV panels for the 2 MW project. It is always possible to increase the capacity of the system by increasing the solar panel cover. The solar installation's power would be evacuated to the grid at a voltage of 33 kV. While the first canal-top solar plant was commissioned in Gujarat's Mehsana district in 2012, the ministry of new and renewable energy backed the idea of using space above canals to avoid unnecessary delays in land acquisition for solar plant construction. Seven states have already installed around 66 MW canal-top solar plants with MNRE's help since 2014. In February 2019, JREDA issued a tender in this regard, but due to a lack of response from eligible parties, the tender was re-issued with a September 2019 deadline and a slightly reduced project cost. Vikram Solar was chosen for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) with responsibility for Operations and Maintenance (O&M) for 10 years after the formalities were completed. Once production begins in January next year, JREDA will enter into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Jharkhand Bijli Vitaran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) to sell power to the grid. Image SourceAlso read: Jaipur energy minister asks govt to promote solar manufacturing Also read: REIL invites bids for 5,000 polycrystalline solar modules