PANAJI
In a bid to reduce Goa’s heavy dependence on imported electricity, the State Electricity Department is likely to explore the possibility of offshore nuclear power generation through Floating Nuclear Power Plants (FNPPs) near the State’s coastline.
The proposal was mentioned in the department’s submission before the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), wherein it stated that the concept involves ecological and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) concerns and would require detailed discussions with the State government before any further consideration.
The proposed exploration is expected to be examined under the newly enacted Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025.
Offshore nuclear power generation refers to deployment of small modular nuclear reactors mounted on barges or offshore platforms close to the coast. The technology is being viewed as an emerging solution to provide uninterrupted clean baseload power to coastal industrial zones, remote regions and green hydrogen projects, while contributing to India’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
The move comes in the backdrop of the Centre’s push for alternative energy generation in Goa. During his visit to the State last year, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had suggested that Goa undertake a feasibility study for setting up a nuclear-based power plant to reduce its nearly 80 per cent dependence on imported electricity.
Khattar had then stated that India, which currently has around 8 gigawatt nuclear power generation capacity, aims to scale it up to 100 GW by 2047.
“State has no scope for thermal-based power plants or hydel power projects. Solar power generation has also not been very successful due to excessive rainfall. Hence, Goa has been asked to explore setting up a nuclear-based power plant. A feasibility study has been proposed,” the Union Minister had said.
However, the proposal had triggered sharp reactions from opposition parties and environmental experts, following which Chief Minister Pramod Sawant clarified that the State government had no plans to establish a conventional nuclear power plant in Goa. Sawant had maintained that the Union Minister was only emphasising the need to explore alternative energy sources.
The proposal had also received support from sections of the industry. The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry had said that the option of nuclear energy was “worth exploring” considering Goa’s rising power demand and limitations in other energy sources.
The chamber had observed that options such as coal, wind, wave, hydel and large-scale solar energy had not proven feasible enough to meet the State’s growing electricity requirements, making nuclear energy a possible long-term alternative.
