Floating Solar in India

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) with a total outlay of ₹5,070 crore to deploy 5,000 MW of Floating Solar Photovoltaic (FSPV) projects integrated with 10,000 MWh of battery energy storage systems across India’s reservoirs and inland water bodies.

About Floating Solar in India:

What It Is?

• Floating solar (or Floating Photovoltaic – FPV) involves mounting photovoltaic panels on buoyant platforms anchored to the bed or banks of freshwater bodies, such as dams, reservoirs, lakes, and industrial water ponds.
• Generated electricity is transmitted onshore via underwater cables. It offers a land-neutral renewable alternative that eliminates land acquisition disputes while conserving water bodies through reduced surface evaporation.

Key Data & Statistics on Floating Solar in India:

• Vast Untapped Technical Potential: The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) estimates India’s floating solar potential at 102.18 GWp, based on utilizing only 20% of available reservoir surface areas.
• Low Current Deployment Base: India’s operational floating solar capacity stands at roughly ~700 MW, indicating substantial room for capacity expansion.
• Massive Decadal Solar Expansion: India’s total installed solar capacity expanded from 3 GW in 2016 to over 160 GW by mid-2026.
• Operational Landmark Projects: Key operational installations include NTPC’s 100 MW Ramagundam project in Telangana, the 92 MW Kayamkulam project in Kerala, and the 600 MW Omkareshwar Floating Solar Park in Madhya Pradesh (where 278 MW is operational).

Key Advantages & Relevance for India:

• Land Conservation & Neutrality: Avoids agricultural land diversion, dense forest clearances, and costly land acquisition litigations.
• Higher Solar Conversion Efficiency: The natural evaporative cooling effect of water keeps panels operating at lower temperatures, increasing energy yields by 5% to 15% compared to ground-mounted setups.
• Preserving Freshwater Reserves: Shading water surfaces reduces evaporation losses significantly, preserving critical drinking and irrigation reserves during dry summer months.
• Co-Location with Hydropower Infrastructure: Installing floating solar on existing hydroelectric dam reservoirs enables shared use of transmission lines, switchyards, and grid interconnection substations.
• Inhibition of Algal Blooms: Blocking excess sunlight lowers water temperatures and photosynthesis, mitigating eutrophication and improving raw water quality.

Key Challenges Associated with Floating Solar:

• Higher Capital & Anchoring Costs: FPV systems are 15% to 25% costlier than ground-mounted plants due to high-grade polymer floaters, specialized anchoring/mooring lines, and underwater cabling.
• Hydrodynamic Stresses & Level Fluctuations: Drastic seasonal changes in reservoir water levels (often exceeding 15–20 meters), combined with high wind shear and wave turbulence, risk anchor detachment and structural fatigue.
• Ecological & Biodiversity Concerns: Continuous water shading and reduced dissolved oxygen levels can alter aquatic ecosystems, impacting fish breeding and local bird nesting habitats.
• Corrosion & Moisture Degradation: Constant exposure to high humidity accelerates Potential Induced Degradation (PID) and corrosion in module frames and electrical junction boxes.
• Multi-Agency Regulatory Bottlenecks: Project clearances require coordinated approvals across state irrigation departments, dam safety authorities, water resource boards, and power transmission utilities.

Salient Features of PM Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY):

• Target Capacity & Outlay: Allocates ₹5,070 crore to build 5,000 MW of floating solar capacity from FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31.
• Mandatory Battery Energy Storage (ESS): Mandates a minimum of 2 hours of co-located storage (10,000 MWh total) per project to supply dispatchable power during evening peak demand.
• Central Financial Assistance (CFA): Provides ₹1 crore per MW upon successful project commissioning, plus up to ₹50 lakh per project for bathymetric, hydrographic, and environmental feasibility studies.

Way Ahead:

• Mandate Comprehensive Bathymetric Assessments: Require high-resolution sonar, seabed contouring, and environmental impact assessments before awarding tenders to prevent anchor failures.
• Promote Domestic Floater Manufacturing: Include UV-stabilized, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) floaters and marine-grade components under domestic manufacturing incentives.
• Establish a Single-Window Reservoir Clearance Portal: Create an inter-ministerial mechanism between the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Jal Shakti to streamline water body leasing.
• Deploy Hybrid Hydro-Solar Dispatch Systems: Coordinate floating solar generation with dam hydropower turbines to balance daytime solar peaks with evening hydroelectric discharge.
• Enforce Marine Environmental Safeguards: Restrict floating solar coverage to under 20%–30% of total reservoir surface area to protect aquatic biodiversity and artisanal fishing rights.

Conclusion:

The Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana provides a strategic framework to expand India’s solar capacity without increasing land-use pressure. By pairing floating solar panels with mandatory battery storage and water conservation benefits, the scheme offers a sustainable path toward India’s 500 GW non-fossil fuel targets. Overcoming engineering challenges through climate-resilient designs and multi-agency coordination will be essential to making floating solar a core pillar of India’s renewable energy mix.