Floating solar has gained traction in India as a sustainable energy solution, primarily because it serves as a renewable energy source in areas with land scarcity. In such areas, since floating solar power plants are installed on waterbodies, the land can be used for other purposes such as farming or construction. Land unavailability and delays in land acquisition being major hurdles to scaling up solar power in India, floating solar plants have emerged as a viable and practical solution. Furthermore, the shading effect of floating solar panels reduces water evaporation, conserving significant volumes of water. This is particularly beneficial in regions with high temperatures and limited water resources.
The Energy and Resources Institute, in its report of 2020, found that India’s reservoirs have 18,000 square km of area that can be potentially used to install an estimated 280 GW of solar power through floating projects. With India aiming to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, floating solar projects represent a critical avenue for scaling up solar energy production without exacerbating landuse conflicts.
During the past one year, two major floating solar projects have been commissioned in Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh – Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited’s (TPREL) 126 MW project and SJVN’s 90 MW project. An overview of these projects, evolving technology trends in this space, major challenges and the future outlook…
TPREL’s 126 MW Omkareshwar floating solar project
TPREL, a subsidiary of Tata Power Company Limited, commissioned its floating solar project at Omkareshwar, Khandwa district, of Madhya Pradesh in November 2024. With a capacity of 126 MW, this is one of the largest floating solar installations in the country. The engineering, procurement and construction contract worth Rs 5.96 billion was awarded to TPREL in September 2022 by NHDC Limited, a joint venture of NHPC Limited and the Madhya Pradesh government. The project reached successful completion in 26 months, to supply power to Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company Limited.
The project spans over 260 hectares of water surface between the Indirasagar and Omkareshwar hydroelectric reservoirs. Its strategic location optimises the use of an otherwise underutilised waterbody. However, the project, during its installation, faced several challenges such as fluctuating water levels, high winds and remote location of the site.
The project uses 213,460 bifacial glass-to-glass modules, with these solar panels capturing sunlight on both sides, enhancing energy generation. Reportedly, the project is expected to produce 204,580 MWh annually, significantly reducing India’s carbon footprint by an estimated 173,893 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. In addition to energy production, the floating solar installation conserves approximately 32.5 million cubic metres of water annually, by reducing evaporation, contributing to water resource management in the region.
The project has employed robust mooring and anchoring systems, which include wave breakers, ballast anchors and adaptive cableways. These technologies ensure the platform’s stability amidst dynamic water conditions. The project reportedly has the world’s largest inverter floating platform (IFP), which optimises space and operational efficiency and supports seamless energy conversion and distribution, setting a global benchmark for floating solar technologies.
SJVN’s 90 MW Omkareshwar floating solar project
SJVN Limited, through its subsidiary, SJVN Green Energy Limited, also commissioned its 90 MW floating solar project in Omkareshwar in August 2024. The project was won by Larsen & Toubro, at a tariff of Rs 3.26 per unit and built on a build-own-operate basis. A power purchase agreement for 25 years was signed for this project. It was set up at an estimated cost of Rs 6.46 billion and was SJVN’s first venture into the floating solar segment. The bidding process for the project was conducted by Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited, a joint venture between the Solar Energy Corporation of India and Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited, in April 2023, to develop a 300 MW floating solar park (Phase II) at the reservoir in the backwaters of the Narmada river. The auction results were announced in August 2023, with NTPC Limited and Hinduja Renewable Energy securing capacities of 80 MW each in the tender, at a tariff of Rs 3.80 per kWh and Rs 3.89 per kWh respectively. Thus, in total, only 250 MW was auctioned out of the total 300 MW tendered.
Reportedly, the plant is divided into 14 islands, the area of each island being around 60,000 square metres. It will generate 196.5 MUs of energy in its first year of operation and an estimated cumulative output of 4,629.3 MUs over its 25-year lifespan. This output corresponds to a reduction of approximately 230,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, significantly aligning with India’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2070.
Technological innovations in these projects
Floating solar systems rely on a range of advanced technologies to ensure efficiency, durability and sustainability. These two projects, TPREL and SJVN, highlight key technological advancements that are transforming this sector. The technologies employed in these projects are listed below.
Bifacial solar modules: These modules capture sunlight from both sides, improving the energy output by 10-20 per cent, compared to traditional panels. They are particularly effective in floating installations, where water surfaces reflect sunlight on to the panels.
Anchoring and mooring systems: Stability is critical for floating solar plants. Anchoring systems such as ballast anchors, bottom anchoring and bank anchoring ensure that the platforms remain secure despite water level fluctuations. Mooring lines are designed to accommodate tidal movements, ensuring long-term durability. The anchoring challenge in Omkareshwar exemplifies the technical complexities involved. Due to the bathymetry (the measure of depth of waterbodies) and rocky soil composition of the reservoir, innovative solutions were required. In the TPREL project, Ciel & Terre India developed a mixed anchoring system that could handle hard soil conditions, ensuring long-term stability.
Inverter floating platform: Central and string inverters play a pivotal role in energy conversion. TPREL’s IFP sets a new standard by housing large-scale inverters on a floating platform, optimising space and simplifying maintenance. The floating structures are designed using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other durable materials, ensuring resistance to UV radiation, corrosion and wear. These platforms are equipped to withstand environmental challenges such as high winds and fluctuating water levels.
Wave breakers: To counteract the effects of waves and wind, both projects incorporate wave breakers and adaptive designs that distribute mechanical stress evenly across the platform.
Challenges
Although floating solar projects offer numerous advantages, their widespread adoption throws up several challenges, which must be effectively addressed. The primary concern is the high initial cost of these installations, which surpasses that of ground-mounted systems. This stems from the need for specialised floating platforms, durable mooring and anchoring systems and materials capable of withstanding aquatic conditions such as HDPE. The additional expenses for these bespoke technologies and components pose financial hurdles, particularly for developers in cost-sensitive markets such as India.
The maintenance complexity of floating solar plants further complicates their adoption. Unlike ground-based installations, water-based systems require specialised operations and maintenance strategies. Biofouling, or the accumulation of biological material on the structures, is a common issue, along with soiling from bird droppings and mechanical wear caused by platform movement. These factors necessitate periodic inspections and cleaning routines, often requiring boats or divers for access, which increase operational costs and logistical demands.
Grid integration poses yet another challenge, particularly in remote locations where floating solar plants are often established similar to the one in Omkareshwar. Even though the government took initiatives to connect these projects to the grid as in the case of Omkareshwar, this process necessitates additional infrastructure investments, including substations and transmission lines. Moreover, the intermittent nature of solar energy demands advanced energy storage solutions and grid management systems to ensure a stable power supply.
Furthermore, regulatory and policy hurdles can delay or impede project implementation. Inconsistent policies, bureaucratic delays and a lack of streamlined approval processes create uncertainties for developers. Meanwhile, well-defined regulatory frameworks, streamlined approval processes and targeted incentives are essential for accelerating the adoption of floating solar technology.
Future outlook
Despite these challenges, floating solar technology is poised to play a transformative role in India’s renewable energy landscape. As technological advancements continue to evolve, innovations such as perovskite solar cells, modular designs for floating platforms and enhanced energy storage systems are expected to revolutionise the floating solar segment. These developments will not only improve the efficiency and scalability of floating solar installations but also reduce their costs, making them more accessible to a broader range of developers and investors.
A particularly promising avenue is the integration of floating solar with hydropower reservoirs. Such hybrid systems combine the strengths of solar and hydroelectric power, providing stable, round-the-clock energy. Solar panels generate power during the day, while hydropower projects, which have higher capacity utlilisation factors, compensate for energy deficits, especially during low-sunlight periods. This synergy not only optimises the use of the existing infrastructure but also enhances the efficiency of both energy sources. Additionally, the cooling effect of water on solar panels in floating systems boosts their efficiency, compared to ground-mounted installations, thereby amplifying their output.
Going forward, with falling solar tariffs and an evolving regulatory framework, states such as Kerala and Assam are exploring pilot floating solar projects, which can be replicated across the country. Net, net, by addressing existing challenges in the floating solar space, India can leverage this technology to accelerate the pace of its green energy transition.
