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Trichy Inaugurates First Solar Power Plant Under Smart Cities Mission

In a significant boost to renewable energy initiatives, Trichy city inaugurated its first-ever solar power plant at Panjapur on Friday. Municipal Administration Minister K N Nehru officially commissioned the project, which was developed by the Trichy Municipal Corporation at a cost of ?50 crore under the Smart Cities Mission program.
The solar power plant, with a capacity of 9.6 megawatts (MW), is expected to save the local body approximately ?9 crore annually by feeding the generated electricity into Tangedco’s grid. Spanning 33 acres near the Trichy-Madurai National Highway, the facility comprises four solar power generation units, each with a capacity of 2.4 MW.

Key Features of the Solar Power Plant

1. The plant consists of 29,328 solar panels mounted on elevated concrete pillars, ensuring efficient energy generation while safeguarding against environmental challenges.
2. It is designed to produce 159.7 lakh units of electricity annually, averaging 43,000 units per day.
3. Generated power will be transmitted to Tangedco’s substation at E Pudur, located 4 km from the plant, via high-tension cables.

A senior corporation official explained that the electricity generated will cover the power requirements of eight drinking water collector wells and a sewage pumping station.
This will lead to substantial savings on electricity expenses while supporting essential city services.


The solar panels, with an estimated lifespan of 25 years, will be maintained and operated by a private agency contracted for 10 years. The Panjapur solar park is also notable as the first solar power project in Tamil Nadu directly implemented by a municipal corporation.