Key Highlights
- The 100 MW floating solar PV project at Getalsud Dam has started full capacity commercial generation from 2nd October 2026, according to project officials.
- The plant had been generating 50 MW since 26th August, while work on the remaining capacity continued.
- The project was developed under SECI’s monitoring, with L&T as the contractor; World Bank support was part of the wider renewable energy programme.
- Solar panels cover about 172 hectares of the Getalsud reservoir.
- Power is being sent through the Getalsud grid to the Irba grid at Sikidiri and then supplied through JBVNL to Ranchi and nearby areas.
- The project faced a prolonged local protest by sections of the fishing community over concerns about displacement before construction resumed.
Ranchi: Jharkhand’s 100 MW floating solar power project at Getalsud Dam has moved to full-capacity commercial generation, with the remaining 50 MW coming online from 2nd October 2026. The project had been producing 50 MW since 29th August 2026. Its full operation marks the completion of one of the state’s major floating solar projects and is expected to add another source of power for Ranchi and surrounding areas. SECI’s official records identify it as a 100 MW floating solar PV project at Getalsud Reservoir.
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The project has been developed under the monitoring of the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) executing the project. The project is part of the renewable-energy programme supported by the World Bank, which has backed the deployment of innovative solar technologies in India. World Bank documents record the Getalsud project as a 100 MW floating solar PV sub-project, with L&T awarded the contract in May 2024.
172 Hectares of Reservoir Area Used for Solar Panels
The solar panels are spread across about 172 hectares of the Getalsud reservoir. Power generated at the plant is being routed through the Getalsud grid to the Irba grid at Sikidiri, from where it is supplied through the Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd (JBVNL) network to Ranchi and nearby areas. The project uses the reservoir surface for power generation, reducing the need for a large tract of additional land. SECI has described the project as a floating solar facility designed to make productive use of the water surface while adding renewable capacity.
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The project had not moved smoothly in its early stages. Local fishing communities dependent on the Getalsud reservoir had opposed the project over concerns about possible displacement, which affected construction for nearly a year. Work later resumed and gathered pace, with the project reaching the full 100 MW generation stage in October. The completion now shifts the focus from construction to regular operation and the actual flow of electricity into the state grid. Any claim of completely eliminating power cuts, however, will depend on the wider reliability and distribution capacity of the electricity network, not only on the plant’s generation.
