Floating Solar (Floatovoltaics): Solar on Water Bodies (2025 Complete Guide)

As the global demand for renewable energy grows, floating solar power plants (floatovoltaics) have emerged as one of the most promising innovations. Instead of covering precious land with solar panels, floating solar involves placing panels on lakes, reservoirs, dams, and even oceans.

Countries like India, China, Japan, and Singapore are leading this transformation, as floating solar provides a land-saving, water-efficient, and high-performing solution. With India’s rapid push for 500 GW renewable capacity by 2030, floating solar is becoming an integral part of the future energy mix.

This in-depth blog explores everything you need to know about floating solar in 2025—its working, benefits, challenges, costs, projects, global examples, and FAQs.

What is Floating Solar (Floatovoltaics)?

Floating solar, also called floatovoltaics, refers to solar photovoltaic panels mounted on floating platforms placed over water bodies.

These floating platforms are anchored to prevent drifting, and underwater cables transmit the electricity generated to the grid.

Key Features:

• Panels float on lakes, reservoirs, or other calm water bodies.
• Anchoring systems ensure stability during winds and water movement.
• Cooling effect from water boosts efficiency.
• Reduces evaporation losses from water bodies.

How Floating Solar Works

Floating solar uses the same basic principle as land-based solar: converting sunlight into electricity. But the infrastructure is adapted for water-based installations.

1. Floating Platform

• Made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or similar UV-resistant, eco-friendly materials.
• Provides buoyancy to hold solar panels.

2. Solar Panels

• Mostly monocrystalline PV panels are used due to higher efficiency.

3. Anchoring & Mooring

• Anchors and mooring lines prevent drifting due to wind or currents.

4. Cabling System

• Special waterproof DC and AC cables connect the panels to inverters onshore.

5. Power Transmission

• Electricity is transmitted to the grid, just like a ground-mounted solar farm.

Benefits of Floating Solar

🌱 Environmental Benefits

1. Saves Land: No need for large tracts of agricultural or urban land.
2. Reduces Water Evaporation: Shade from panels decreases evaporation, conserving water for agriculture and drinking.
3. Better Efficiency: Cooling effect of water increases panel efficiency by 5–15%.
4. Less Dust Deposition: Compared to ground-mounted systems in dusty regions.

💡 Economic Benefits

1. Higher Energy Yield: Increased efficiency means more electricity per panel.
2. Dual Use of Resources: Combines energy production with water resource management.
3. Reduced Transmission Losses: Floating solar on reservoirs can be close to hydro dams, feeding into existing grids.

👩‍🌾 Social Benefits

1. Food-Energy-Water Nexus: Supports agriculture by reducing evaporation in irrigation reservoirs.
2. Employment: Creates green jobs in installation, maintenance, and operations.

Challenges of Floating Solar

1. High Initial Cost – Floats, anchoring, and waterproof equipment are expensive.
2. Corrosion Risk – Water and humidity can damage equipment without proper coatings.
3. Maintenance Complexity – Cleaning and servicing panels on water is more complex than on land.
4. Impact on Aquatic Ecosystems – Large coverage may affect sunlight penetration and aquatic life.
5. Storms & Natural Disasters – Systems must withstand strong winds, floods, and heavy rains (critical in monsoon-prone regions like India).

Floating Solar vs Ground-Mounted Solar

Floating Solar Projects in India

India is one of the global leaders in floating solar.

Key Projects (2025):

1. Ramgundam, Telangana: 100 MW NTPC floating solar project on reservoir.
2. Kayamkulam, Kerala: 92 MW floating solar on Kayamkulam backwaters.
3. Simhadri, Andhra Pradesh: 25 MW floating solar by NTPC.
4. West Bengal (Sagardighi): 15 MW floating solar on thermal power plant water body.

👉 By 2030, India targets 10–15 GW of floating solar capacity.

Global Floating Solar Examples

1. China: World’s largest floating solar farm (320 MW) in Anhui Province.
2. Japan: Over 70 projects, including the 13.7 MW Yamakura Dam floating solar plant.
3. Singapore: 60 MW floating solar at Tengeh Reservoir powering water treatment plants.
4. USA: California and Florida experimenting with agrivoltaic + floating hybrid models.

Cost of Floating Solar in 2025

• Ground-mounted solar in India: ₹40–50 per watt.
• Floating solar: ₹55–65 per watt (20–30% higher).
• 1 MW floating solar plant cost: ₹5.5–6.5 crore.

Although costlier, floating solar provides higher yields + water savings + land conservation.

Floating Solar and Monsoon Resilience in India

A major concern in India is whether floating solar can withstand monsoons and floods.

• Engineering Solutions:
  • Flexible mooring systems for fluctuating water levels.
  • Waterproof cables and corrosion-resistant coatings.
  • Wave-resistant floating structures.

Successful projects in Kerala backwaters prove floating solar can withstand India’s monsoon conditions if designed properly.

Future of Floating Solar (2025–2035)

• Hybrid Systems: Floating solar + hydro dams for integrated power supply.
• Aquavoltaics: Combining floating solar with fish farming.
• Offshore Floating Solar: Panels deployed in calm seas (being tested in Singapore & Netherlands).
• AI Monitoring: Predictive maintenance using IoT sensors.

By 2035, floating solar could represent 5–10% of India’s total solar capacity.

FAQs

Q1. What is floating solar?
Floating solar (floatovoltaics) refers to solar panels installed on floating platforms on water bodies like reservoirs, lakes, and dams.

Q2. Why is floating solar important in India?
India faces land scarcity for solar farms; floating solar allows energy generation without using farmland.

Q3. Does floating solar save water?
Yes, it reduces evaporation from reservoirs, especially in hot and dry regions.

Q4. Is floating solar more expensive than ground-mounted solar?
Yes, it costs 20–30% more but offers higher efficiency and dual benefits.

Q5. Can floating solar panels survive monsoons in India?
Yes, with proper engineering (anchoring, waterproofing, and flexible mooring), they are resilient.

Q6. Which are the largest floating solar projects in India?
Ramgundam (100 MW, Telangana), Kayamkulam (92 MW, Kerala), and Simhadri (25 MW, Andhra Pradesh).

Q7. Does floating solar harm aquatic life?
If poorly designed, it may reduce light penetration; but with optimized spacing, impact is minimal.

Q8. What is the global potential of floating solar?
According to the World Bank, floating solar could reach 400 GW capacity globally in the next decade.

Conclusion

Floating solar, or floatovoltaics, is no longer an experimental concept—it’s a proven solution to balance India’s energy and land-use challenges. By harnessing underutilized water bodies like reservoirs and dams, floating solar:

• Saves precious land.
• Reduces evaporation.
• Boosts solar efficiency.
• Provides clean and sustainable power.

In a country like India, where agriculture, water, and energy compete for space, floating solar represents the perfect harmony between nature and technology.

👉 As we move towards a green future, floating solar could play a key role in achieving India’s 2030 renewable energy targets and inspire global adoption.