India, a nation striving towards a sustainable future, has set ambitious goals for renewable energy adoption. Amidst the expansion of solar power across the country, a novel technology is gaining momentum: floating solar. This innovative approach involves mounting solar panels on water bodies, harnessing the sun’s energy without compromising precious land resources.
Why Floating Solar?
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Efficient Land Utilization: India’s growing population and rapid urbanization have placed immense pressure on land availability. Floating solar circumvents this issue by utilizing underutilized water bodies, such as reservoirs, dams, and canals.
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Reduced Evaporation: Solar panels floating on water bodies can help minimize evaporation, conserving this precious resource.
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Enhanced Cooling: Water acts as a natural coolant, keeping the solar panels at an optimal temperature, thereby improving their efficiency.
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Shading Protection: Floating solar panels are less susceptible to shading from trees or buildings, maximizing their energy output.
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Dual Purpose Water Bodies: Floating solar installations can coexist with existing water uses, such as irrigation or aquaculture.
Also, read Floating Solar Costs Fall in India.
Policy Initiatives and Sector Growth
The Indian government has recognized the potential of floating solar and has taken steps to promote its growth. In 2019, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched a scheme to facilitate the development of floating solar projects. The scheme provides financial incentives and regulatory support to encourage investment in this sector.
As a result of these initiatives, the floating solar sector in India is witnessing rapid growth. The country’s current installed floating solar capacity stands at around 2.6 GW, with an ambitious target of 10 GW by 2025.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite its promising outlook, the floating solar sector in India faces certain challenges.
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High Initial Costs: The upfront costs of floating solar projects are generally higher than ground-mounted solar installations.
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Technological Expertise: Specialized expertise is required for designing, installing, and maintaining floating solar systems.
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Regulatory Framework: Certain regulatory hurdles, such as permitting processes, need to be streamlined to expedite project development.
Despite these challenges, the opportunities for floating solar in India are immense. The country’s vast coastline, abundant water bodies, and ambitious renewable energy goals create a fertile ground for this technology to flourish.
Key Projects and Future Prospects
Several notable floating solar projects are currently underway in India, showcasing the sector’s potential.
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Ramagundam Floating Solar Power Plant (Telangana): India’s largest floating solar power plant, with a capacity of 100 MW.
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Kayamkulam Floating Solar Power Plant (Kerala): NTPC’s second-largest floating solar power plant, with a capacity of 92 MW.
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Rihand Dam Floating Solar Power Plant (Uttar Pradesh): A 50 MW project co-developed by NTPC and the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA).
These projects demonstrate the growing maturity of floating solar technology in India. As the cost of the technology declines and expertise builds, floating solar is poised to play a significant role in India’s renewable energy journey.
Conclusion
Floating solar is not just a technology; it represents a paradigm shift in India’s approach to renewable energy. By harnessing the power of the sun without compromising land resources, floating solar offers a sustainable and efficient solution for India’s energy needs. As the sector continues to mature, we can expect to see floating solar panels transform India’s water bodies into hubs of clean energy generation, powering the nation’s sustainable
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