As energy demand escalates, India is venturing into renewable energy sources. Solar energy has been one of the most promising biomass-independent renewables to achieve this transition towards a sustainable future. In India, the country gifted with sunlight, solar energy projects have become a node of activity. One of the most brilliant and interesting innovative solar power generation methods is floating solar panels. The ability to produce energy over water bodies encourages the infusion of further maximized land usage for other purposes. This article puts forward the best floating solar panel projects in India and their effect on the evolving solar panel market in the country.
What are the Floating Solar Panel Projects?
Floating solar power plants are solar energy systems that float on bodies of water. Similar to conventional land-based solar power plants, floating solar power plants convert sunlight into energy using solar panels to generate electricity. Floating solar power plants are unique in that they are constructed above water and therefore can be placed where land for solar installation is limited or not available. They utilize surfaces of water that are otherwise unused and are present in abundance. Natural cooling of water on solar panels does improve their efficiency since there would be no overheating.
Floating solar panels also aid in minimizing evaporation from the water body surface and aid in water conservation from being evaporated. The rapidly growing renewable energy capacity in India is now associated with floating solar panel projects as part of the transition. The projects install solar panels on the water bodies, like water reservoirs, lakes, and dams as that saves valuable land space and helps generate clean energy. With big projects in Telangana, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh, India is establishing itself as a global player in floating solar technology with an increased focus on sustainability.
Top 5 floating solar panel projects of India:
1. Omkareshwar Dam Floating Solar Power Project
The Omkareshwar Dam in Madhya Pradesh will house India’s largest floating solar plant of 600 MW under development in its premises. The 90-MW first unit of the plant commenced operations in August 2024, on a cumulative energy generation target of around 4.63 billion units over 25 years. It encompasses a considerable area of 2,000 hectares and produces quite a bit of clean energy, greatly decreasing carbon emissions.
A feasibility study for the project was conducted in collaboration with the World Bank, while it is expected to provide electric energy for thousands of local homes. The project would also assure a constant source of power for nearby communities. It produces a unique design, using water cooling with enough sunlight to deliver greater efficiency than via standard solar farm models. It also promises in conserving water through a slight decline in evaporation. [1]
2. NTPC Kayamkulam Floating Solar Project
The 70 MW floating solar photovoltaic (PV) power project at Kayamkulam, Kerala, is part of the larger 92 MW floating solar program being implemented at various reservoirs at NTPC’s Rajiv Gandhi Gas-based Power Station. This project is a major stride in NTPC’s plan to set up floating solar energy facilities in India contributing to the renewable energy objectives of the country. The generated power will be evacuated to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) through a 220 kV GIS substation located at the Rajiv Gandhi Gas-based Power Station.
Tata Power Solar System Ltd. is executing this floating solar project under the EPC model. The cutting-edge technology employed in the project comprises specialized floaters and anchoring systems, being supplied by Ciel & Terre and Adtech- two of the key providers in floating solar spaces. This project signifies the growing importance of floating solar systems in India, especially in areas where land is becoming scarce, and also clears a path for NTPC to use clean energy sources, thereby strengthening the pathway for India towards sustainable power solutions.[2]
Ramagundam Floating Solar Power Project
Ramagundam Floating Solar PV Project is the largest floating solar power project in the country. This Project was commissioned at a total on July 2022, and is expected to generate 100MW power when fully completed. Ramgundam has stepped forward for NTPC, the state electricity generator of the state of Telangana, which has already taken a few steps towards renewable energy. As a result, the floating solar capacity in the Southern Region of India comes to a total of 217 MW, alongside existing projects at Kayamkulam (92 MW) and Simhadri (25 MW).
Built at an outlay of ₹423 crores under an EPC contract with BHEL, this project extends 500 acres of the Ramagundam Reservoir, into 40 blocks, each of which comprises floating platforms housing 11,200 solar modules, inverters, transformers, and HT panels, all mounted on HDPE floaters and anchored by HMPE ropes. Part of the power generated is evacuated through 33 kV underground cables. The project would thus result in several environmental benefits including minimal land utilization, reduced water evaporation to the extent of preventing loss of an annual 32.5 lakh cubic meters water. It also saves coal to the extent of 1,65,000 tons per year, and 2,10,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year. The floating system also keeps the solar modules cool, thus improving efficiency and power generation. [3]
4. Simhadri Floating Solar Power Project
Simhadri Floating Solar PV installation in India would thus be the largest, which is a 25-MW Floating Solar PV project located at NTPC Simhadri Super Thermal Power Project, on its raw water reservoir. Developed in furtherance of NTPC’s intention to promote the floating solar industry, the project did not have any prior power off-take agreements in place. The contract was awarded to BHEL for execution in 2019 under the EPC paradigm. This project possesses a unique and innovative anchoring system, the first of its type in India, and its design evolved through extensive deliberations amongst NTPC, BHEL, and design consultants.
The generated power by the project is currently supplied to various beneficiaries under the Government of India’s flexi arrangement scheme for NTPC Simhadri. The rated capacity of 25 MW has an annual energy generation of 55.11 million units. The project also plays a major role in the related environmental fields, where it saves an estimated 47.5 metric tons of CO2 emissions each year. The project stands as a testimony of the floating solar technology’s promise in India and is a significant event in the country in its move towards renewable energy. The successful operation of this projects will trigger fie more floating solar projects, which form a wonderful opportunity for India to simultaneously meet its enlarging energy demand and lower its carbon footprint.[4]
5. Chandigarh Floating Solar Power Plant
Chandigarh has inaugurated the largest solar power project floating in Northern India at the Waterworks site in Sector 39. This project has the potential of 2000 kWp and costs ₹11.70 crore. The UT Administrator Banwari Lal Purohit was the chief guest at this function. The inauguration ceremony was attended by MP Kirron Kher, Adviser Dharam Pal, Director of Environment Debendra Dalai, and Mayor Anoop Gupta. Also, the floated Solar project of 500 kWp at Dhanas Lake consists of decorative fountains. The project is part of the renewable energy infrastructure expansion program and carbon footprint reduction measures being taken by Chandigarh.
The floating solar installations utilize available water bodies thus minimizing the land use and efficiently harnessing the solar energy. The projects should be very helpful for Chandigarh in achieving the renewable energy generation targets as well as the environmental sustainability goals. It is a major step in the region’s striving for clean and sustainable energy, showing that floating solar technologies can supply energy needs while consuming lesser land and water resources. These projects will also take India further towards the path of renewable energy.[5]
Potential for Floating Solar in India’s Solar Energy Market:
The solar energy market is booming in India due to ongoing floating solar panel projects. According to a report by Invest India, in comparison to 2014, wherein its installed capacity stood at a measly 2.5 GW, solar power has increased its uptake to over thirty times more at a present capacity value of about 94.16 GW. In time, this value is expected to become higher. And of course, solar energy plays a vital role in such plans about the country’s ambitions toward renewable energy capacity. The emerging floating solar panel market, still at its infancy, could soon see several changes as to the benefits.
It creates a floating solar market, in particular, states without enough space but sufficient water mass areas. Most water bodies, reservoirs, lakes, and dams could be tapped to avail their contribution to clean solar electricity without hindrances to other land uses. The growth trend in this market promises a fantastic rise due to the development of new projects across India. Pristine Market Insights notes that the floating solar energy market in India will observe huge growth due to various reasons such as favourable government policies, conducive climates, and increasing awareness about renewable energy solutions. As per the firm, the floating solar power market of India will likely escalate with time and make India the future world market leader in floating solar technologies.
References:
- Tnn. (2024, August 12). One of world’s largest 600 MW floating solar plants to hover over & power Omkareshwar shrine. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/worlds-largest-600-mw-floating-solar-plant-to-power-omkareshwar/articleshow/112451876.cms
- 70MW Kayamkulam-II Floating Solar PV Project – NTPC Renewable Energy. (n.d.). https://ntpcrel.co.in/verticals/floating-solar-2/70mw-kayamkulam-ii-floating-solar-pv-project/
- India’s largest floating solar power project commissioned. (n.d.). https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1838489
- 25MW Simhadri Floating Solar PV Project – NTPC Renewable Energy. (n.d.). https://ntpcrel.co.in/verticals/floating-solar-2/25mw-simhadri-floating-solar-pv-project/
- Express News Service. (2023, January 24). Chandigarh gets North India’s largest floating solar power project. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/purohit-north-indias-largest-floating-solar-power-project-8400465/
