Floating solar: Can it be India’s next renewable energy success story?

India's solar capacity has surged from 3 gigawatts in 2016 to over 160 gigawatts in 2026, primarily through large-scale projects. However, securing land for new installations is becoming increasingly challenging as solar competes with urbanization and agriculture, while ecological conservation remains a top priority. Policymakers are now exploring ways to expand solar capacity without needing additional land.

The Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) represents the Indian government's commitment to promote land-neutral solar applications. The Rs 5,070 crore scheme aims to develop 5,000 megawatts of floating solar projects, including co-located energy storage systems with a minimum storage capacity of 2 hours (10,000 MWh), to support grid stability.

While India has made some progress in large floating solar plants, the scheme could provide crucial policy support to accelerate nationwide deployment.