SolSetu — Renewable Infrastructure

Floating Solar Parks: How India Is Turning Reservoirs into Powerhouses

Published: 26 October 2025, 08:00 PM · By Solsetu Publisher

India’s renewable energy story is expanding beyond rooftops and deserts. The country’s reservoirs — once seen only as water storage — are now becoming vast powerhouses through floating solar parks. These projects not only produce clean power but also help conserve water and optimise land use.

What Are Floating Solar Parks?

Floating solar systems consist of PV panels mounted on buoyant platforms placed over water bodies such as reservoirs, lakes, and dam catchments. They generate power while reducing evaporation and improving module efficiency due to the cooling effect of water.

India’s Major Floating Solar Projects

• Ramagundam (Telangana): India’s largest operational floating solar project — 100 MW — commissioned by NTPC on the Ramagundam reservoir.
• Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh): A 600 MW mega floating solar park spread across the Narmada dam backwaters, developed by NHDC and SECI.
• Kayamkulam (Kerala): A 90 MW project by NTPC, one of the first large-scale grid-integrated floating systems in southern India.

Advantages of Floating Solar

• Land optimization: Utilises unused water surfaces, preserving agricultural and forest land.
• Higher efficiency: Cooler module temperatures yield 5–10% more power output.
• Reduced evaporation: Helps save millions of litres of water annually from evaporation.
• Lower transmission losses: Often co-located near hydropower stations or grid infrastructure.

Challenges and Way Forward

Despite rapid growth, floating solar faces challenges — including high installation costs, corrosion risks, and the need for specialised anchoring systems. However, falling equipment prices and improved materials are making these projects increasingly viable.

By 2030, India targets 10 GW of floating solar capacity, a step that could save over 300,000 acres of land while producing enough clean power for 10 million homes.