Mumbai Clears First Hybrid Hydro-Solar Power Project
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

Mumbai Clears First Hybrid Hydro-Solar Power Project

The Maharashtra government has approved Mumbai’s first municipal-level hybrid renewable energy initiative, granting final clearance for the diversion of 4.9 hectares of forest land in Mokhada, Palghar, to develop a hydroelectric and solar power project at the Middle Vaitarna reservoir.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) received the crucial approval on 21 July — the last of several pending permissions — allowing construction to commence on a project that has been planned for over five years. Once operational, it is expected to generate around 208 million units of electricity annually, reducing the civic body’s annual power bill by about Rs 126 million at the Pise-Panjrapur water treatment plant.
Under a 25-year agreement, BMC will purchase power from the contractor at a fixed rate of Rs 4.75 per unit. The scheme will follow a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model, ensuring no capital expenditure for the civic body.
The Middle Vaitarna Dam, completed in 2014 with a height of 102.4 metres and length of 565 metres, was designed for both water supply and potential power generation. In 2019, BMC received permission from the state’s Water Resources Department to generate hydropower from the reservoir. Consultants later proposed a hybrid model with 20 MW of hydroelectric capacity and 80 MW of floating solar capacity.
Following a competitive tender, the contract was awarded in February 2021 to a joint venture between Shapoorji Pallonji & Company Pvt Ltd and Mahalaxmi Konal Urja Pvt Ltd, which formed Vaitarna Solar Hydro PowerGenco Pvt Ltd (VSHPPL) to execute the project. The first phase will comprise a 20 MW hydroelectric plant and a 6.5 MW (AC) floating solar installation. Construction is expected to take 24 months, excluding the monsoon season.
Electricity from Middle Vaitarna will be transmitted to the Pise-Panjrapur facility via the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (MSETCL) network, with a new 13 km line connecting the dam to the nearest grid point at Igatpuri, Nashik.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) granted Stage 1 environmental clearance in October 2024 and Stage 2 in April 2025. The state government’s recent approval for forest land diversion was the final step, enabling work to proceed.
The project represents the first large-scale hybrid renewable power generation venture by a municipal body in India. By combining hydropower with floating solar technology, BMC aims to cut reliance on conventional electricity, lower operational costs, and enhance Mumbai’s renewable energy capacity. If successful, it could serve as a model for other cities to integrate green energy into existing water infrastructure.

Your next big infra connection is waiting at RAHSTA 2025 – Asia’s Biggest Roads & Highways Expo, Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. Don’t miss out!

The Maharashtra government has approved Mumbai’s first municipal-level hybrid renewable energy initiative, granting final clearance for the diversion of 4.9 hectares of forest land in Mokhada, Palghar, to develop a hydroelectric and solar power project at the Middle Vaitarna reservoir.The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) received the crucial approval on 21 July — the last of several pending permissions — allowing construction to commence on a project that has been planned for over five years. Once operational, it is expected to generate around 208 million units of electricity annually, reducing the civic body’s annual power bill by about Rs 126 million at the Pise-Panjrapur water treatment plant.Under a 25-year agreement, BMC will purchase power from the contractor at a fixed rate of Rs 4.75 per unit. The scheme will follow a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model, ensuring no capital expenditure for the civic body.The Middle Vaitarna Dam, completed in 2014 with a height of 102.4 metres and length of 565 metres, was designed for both water supply and potential power generation. In 2019, BMC received permission from the state’s Water Resources Department to generate hydropower from the reservoir. Consultants later proposed a hybrid model with 20 MW of hydroelectric capacity and 80 MW of floating solar capacity.Following a competitive tender, the contract was awarded in February 2021 to a joint venture between Shapoorji Pallonji & Company Pvt Ltd and Mahalaxmi Konal Urja Pvt Ltd, which formed Vaitarna Solar Hydro PowerGenco Pvt Ltd (VSHPPL) to execute the project. The first phase will comprise a 20 MW hydroelectric plant and a 6.5 MW (AC) floating solar installation. Construction is expected to take 24 months, excluding the monsoon season.Electricity from Middle Vaitarna will be transmitted to the Pise-Panjrapur facility via the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (MSETCL) network, with a new 13 km line connecting the dam to the nearest grid point at Igatpuri, Nashik.The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) granted Stage 1 environmental clearance in October 2024 and Stage 2 in April 2025. The state government’s recent approval for forest land diversion was the final step, enabling work to proceed.The project represents the first large-scale hybrid renewable power generation venture by a municipal body in India. By combining hydropower with floating solar technology, BMC aims to cut reliance on conventional electricity, lower operational costs, and enhance Mumbai’s renewable energy capacity. If successful, it could serve as a model for other cities to integrate green energy into existing water infrastructure.

Next Story
Real Estate

Vitizen Hotels Signs Deal at Manyata Tech Park

Vikram Kamats Hospitality, as part of its ongoing expansion in key metropolitan markets, announced that its material subsidiary, Vitizen Hotels, has signed a long-term lease agreement for a 45-key hotel property at Manyata Tech Park, Bengaluru.Strategically located in the city’s prominent IT hub, the property is well-positioned to serve corporate travelers, business professionals, and long-stay guests. The addition aligns with the company’s asset-light growth model, leveraging long-term leases to expand its footprint in high-demand urban markets.The hotel is expected to strengthen the comp..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

CONCOR Signs MoU with BPIPL to Operate Container Terminal at Bhavnagar Port

Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhavnagar Port Infrastructure (BPIPL) on September 4, 2025, in New Delhi to operate and maintain the upcoming container terminal at the northside of Bhavnagar Port, Gujarat.BPIPL had earlier entered into an agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in September 2024 for the port’s development. Under this arrangement, 235 hectares of land has been leased to BPIPL for 30 years, with provision for expansion by an additional 250 hectares.The new terminal is expected to significantly enhance logistic..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Concord Launches India’s First Indigenous Zero-Emission Rail Propulsion

Concord Control Systems (CCSL), a leader in embedded electronics and critical rail technologies, has announced the development of India’s first fully indigenous zero-emission propulsion system, marking a significant step toward the country’s railway electrification and net-zero goals for 2030.Powered by Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries and featuring a DC chopper-based drive, the propulsion system eliminates idling losses common in diesel engines, offering higher efficiency, lower costs, and zero emissions.What sets this innovation apart is its completely indigenous design. Except for..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?