India Pushes States to Identify Water Bodies to Scale Floating Solar Capacity

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has called on States and Union Territories to identify and prioritise suitable water bodies for the development of floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) projects, signalling a stronger push to scale deployment of the technology across the country.

The direction emerged during a stakeholder consultation workshop held on 20 February 2026 under the chairmanship of J V N Subramanyam, Joint Secretary, MNRE. The meeting focused on reviewing the draft Floating Solar PV Potential Assessment Report and the draft floating solar policy prepared by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) and IIT Roorkee.

Push to Unlock Floating Solar Potential

Floating solar is being seen as a strategic solution to India’s land constraints in the expansion of renewable energy. By utilising reservoirs, lakes, and other water bodies, the technology allows capacity addition without competing with agricultural or urban land use.

However, India has commissioned only around 700 MW of floating solar capacity so far, according to MNRE. This is largely due to limited availability of reliable site data and the absence of a clear policy and execution framework.

To address these gaps, MNRE — in collaboration with NISE and IIT Roorkee — has developed draft documents aimed at mapping potential sites and establishing a structured policy pathway for project development.

States Asked to Lead Site Identification

As part of the next phase, MNRE has requested States and UTs to conduct internal consultations across multiple departments, including water resources, irrigation, revenue, fisheries, forests, agriculture, power utilities, public works, tourism, and pollution control authorities.

The ministry emphasised that coordinated state-level engagement will be critical for identifying viable water bodies, assessing feasibility, and resolving administrative and regulatory challenges. Based on the draft potential assessment and policy framework, States are expected to prioritise sites that can be fast-tracked for floating solar deployment.

Focus on Faster Execution and Risk Reduction

Discussions during the workshop also explored implementation models designed to reduce project risks and improve execution timelines. Proposed implementation models, designed to reduce project risks and improve execution timelines, included plug and pay frameworks and the allotment of water bodies with key approvals already in place to de-risk investments.

MNRE indicated that additional consultations will be undertaken with national institutions, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Wetland Authority, and the National Dam Safety Authority.