Floating solar: Powering the future from water
As land grows scarce, floating solar technology presents a space-saving, high-impact solution to meet clean energy demands
Last Updated: Sep 23, 2025, 18:49 IST4 min
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“Greenhouse gas emissions keep growing. Global temperatures keep rising. And our planet is fast approaching tipping points that will make climate chaos irreversible. We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.”
— António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
There is nothing new in the dire climate change warning in Guterres’s statement. We all know the facts, speak about solutions with near-professional ease, and appear to know how to mitigate the crisis. Yet, we often fail to walk the talk. After all is said and done, we remain in a state of near ‘climatestasis’.
That said, implementing even obvious solutions are challenging. Fossil fuels remain the main culprit, but there isn’t enough renewable energy to meet humankind’s current energy needs. One significant hurdle is the lack of space to install clean energy infrastructure.
This challenge is quite evident with solar panels—one of the most effective clean energy technologies. Rooftop panels are often not enough to meet the energy needs of an entire building. Solar farms require vast land parcels, which are difficult to allocate in densely populated areas. Here, floating solar panels offer an ingenious solution—especially in areas near water bodies.
This is where the elegant balance of nature comes in: water, the Yin, and the sun, the Yang—merged in a technological symphony. A smart, space-efficient, and harmonious solution rooted in sustainability.
Floating solar panels or floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems
Typically constructed from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or other durable materials, FPV systems are designed to float on water bodies such as reservoirs, lakes, ponds, or canals. These photovoltaic modules are mounted on buoyant platforms and benefit from the natural cooling effects of water, leading to increased energy efficiency. The operational process is like conventional solar technology: PV cells absorb sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC), which is then transformed into alternating current (AC) via inverters and supplied to homes, businesses, and industries.
FPV systems are tailored to their aquatic settings. They incorporate buoyant platforms designed to withstand water-level changes and weather conditions, anchoring systems, and flexible cables for stability, as well as advanced sensors and software for real-time performance monitoring and proactive maintenance.
Floating solar systems offer several advantages over conventional land-based installations. By occupying water surfaces, they conserve land for agriculture, urban development, or conservation. The cooling effect of water maintains optimal temperatures for PV cells, enhancing energy output. They also reduce evaporation—a vital feature in arid regions—and cause minimal land alteration, safeguarding terrestrial ecosystems and reducing land-use conflict.
Feasibility and potential
Are floating solar systems scalable and economically viable?
Research suggests that FPVs are more than a fad—they are a robust, high-potential solution. Covering just 30 percent of the surface area of 114,555 global reservoirs could generate approximately 9,434 TWh/year of electricity.
In Europe, using just one percent of the surface area of approximately 146 hydropower reservoirs could potentially double their existing power generation. Covering 2.3 percent of these reservoirs could yield 42.31 TWh of clean energy while preventing the evaporation of roughly 557,000 litres of water. Portugal is deploying what will be the EU's largest FPV installation, with a 500 MW capacity.
Meanwhile China leads globally with a 320 MW FPV plant operational since 2021. Other pioneers in FPV include Singapore, Japan, and South Korea. Global FPV installations are expected to reach 77 GW by 2033, driven largely by the Asia-Pacific region.
Floating solar: The Indian experience
India's 18,000 km² of water reservoirs present immense potential for FPV, with an approximate capacity of 280 GW. However, only a fraction has been harnessed so far. The country aims to generate 1.7 GW through FPV, supported by progressive favourable renewable energy policies. Several states—Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Bihar, and Rajasthan—have launched significant projects.
Key FPV projects in India:
- Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project (Madhya Pradesh): India's largest floating solar park at 600 MW, features over 200,000 high-efficiency panels and the world's largest inverter floating platform. It generates ~204,580 MWh annually, offsets ~173,893 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, and conserves ~32.5 million cubic metres of water annually.
- Kayamkulam Floating Solar Project (Kerala): Developed by Tata Power Solar, this 101.6 MWp installation covers 350 acres of backwater. It generates ~167,150 MWh of clean energy annually, offsetting ~64,142 tonnes of CO₂. Despite challenges such as fluctuating water levels and monsoons, the project features India’s first 5MW floating inverter platform.
Open questions and future considerations
- Floating solar technology offers transformative potential for renewable energy, particularly in space-constrained, water-rich countries like India. However, several important concerns remain unresolved.
- Material sustainability: What is the lifespan of float materials? Can they be made from recycled plastics and other materials? What happens at the end of their life cycle? Are they recyclable, or will they add to landfill waste?
- Ecological balance: Does plastic impact water quality in any way? How do FPVs affect aquatic ecosystems—oxygen exchange, evaporation rates, and biodiversity? Are there long-term effects on water cycles that could disrupt the ecological equilibrium?
- Economic feasibility: While promising, the implementation of FPV technology is expensive. For emerging economies, funding such infrastructure may be difficult. FPV’s success may depend on resolving the broader challenge of climate finance: who pays for mitigation and adaptation?
About the authors: Sunita Chandak is a member of the Programme Office for PGDM Online, and Shalini Talwar is Professor of Finance and Accounting, both at S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR).
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First Published: Sep 23, 2025, 18:46
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