"India launches dedicated scheme to scale up floating solar capacity"
Floating Solar
Solar PV panels mounted on buoyant platforms anchored over water bodies, requiring no land.
PM-SSY (Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana)
India's first dedicated national scheme to develop 5,000 MW of floating solar.
India's solar energy journey has been one of the fastest expansions in the world. Installed solar capacity grew from 3 GW in 2016 to over 160 GW by 2026, driven largely by large-scale ground-mounted projects. This growth is central to India's commitment to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based electricity capacity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070. However, land availability is becoming a binding constraint. Solar projects compete with agriculture, urbanisation, and ecological conservation. This has pushed policymakers to explore land-neutral alternatives, technologies that generate solar power without occupying additional land.
Floating solar is one such alternative. It places solar panels on water bodies rather than land. The concept is not new globally, but India's deployment has been limited to a few large projects by public sector agencies. The Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) marks the first time India has created a dedicated national scheme to mainstream floating solar at scale.
Floating solar systems mount solar modules on buoyant platforms anchored to the bed or banks of reservoirs, lakes, or industrial ponds. Inverters and electrical equipment may sit on the floating platform or onshore. Power is transmitted to shore via underwater cables. Because no land is needed, any suitable inland water body can host a floating solar installation.
Beyond land conservation, floating solar offers two additional technical advantages. First, the water surface beneath the panels reduces evaporation from the reservoir. This is significant in water-stressed regions, though the actual savings depend on the area covered, local climate, and reservoir characteristics. Second, the cooling effect of water keeps the panels at lower operating temperatures. Solar modules lose efficiency as temperature rises, so cooler panels produce more electricity, a meaningful gain during India's hot summers. …
Consider the following statements:
1.Gujarat has the largest solar park in India.
2.Kerala has a fully solar powered International Airport.
3.Goa has the largest floating solar photovoltaic project in India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to technologies for solar power production, consider the following statements:
1.'Photovoltaics' is a technology that generates electricity by direct conversion of light into electricity, while 'Solar Thermal' is a technology that utilizes the Sun's rays to generate heat which is further used in electricity generation process.
2.Photovoltaics generates Alternating Current (AC), while Solar Thermal generates Direct Current (DC).
3.India has manufacturing base for Solar Thermal technology, but not for Photovoltaics.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to solar power production in India, consider the following statements :
1.India is the third largest in the world in the manufacture of silicon wafers used in photovoltaic units.
2.The solar power tariffs are determined by the Solar Energy Corporation of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
How can India achieve energy independence through clean technology by 2047? How can biotechnology play a crucial role in this endeavour? (Answer in 150 words)
With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY), consider the following statements:
1.It is the first dedicated national scheme in India for scaling up floating solar adoption.
2.It provides Central Financial Assistance of Rs 2 crore per MW upon commissioning of eligible projects.
3.It mandates co-located energy storage with a minimum duration of 2 hours.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the following best explains why floating solar panels tend to be more efficient than equivalent ground-mounted panels during summer months in India?
The National Institute of Solar Energy has assessed India's floating solar potential at approximately 102 GW. This estimate is based on which of the following assumptions?
Consider the following statements regarding floating solar systems in India:
1.The Ramagundam floating solar project in Telangana has a capacity of 100 MW.
2.The Omkareshwar Floating Solar Park in Madhya Pradesh is planned for a total capacity of 600 MW.
3.India's current installed floating solar capacity exceeds 5,000 MW.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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