After making major developments in solar power across desert regions like the Thar, India is now tapping into its water bodies for the next phase of clean energy, “floating solar farms.” With the country surrounded by oceans on three sides and dotted with reservoirs and lakes, floating solar panels are coming up as a powerful and space-saving solution.
These solar systems are installed on water surfaces instead of land. They not only generate clean energy but also help in reducing evaporation, cooling the panels naturally, and slowing algal growth. Plus, they save valuable land for agriculture and urban use.
A striking example of this innovation can be seen near the Omkareshwar Dam on the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh. This massive reservoir, with a capacity of 987 million cubic meters and a surface area of over 90 square kilometers, now hosts two major floating solar projects, one of 126 megawatts and another of 90 megawatts, both commissioned in 2024.
What makes this even more exciting is how the transformation is visible from space. NASA recently captured these images from space and shared a before-and-after image on their website. Satellite images taken by NASA’s Landsat 9 satellite using the OLI-2 instrument clearly show the growth of solar arrays on the reservoir.
An image from February 2023 shows early development, while a newer image from January 2025 highlights a sign of rapid progress in how floating panels have spread across the northeast and southeast arms of the reservoir.
These images not only track the physical growth of the project but also reflect India’s expanding focus on solar innovations beyond the ground.
Beyond Omkareshwar, similar projects are active in Ramagundam (100 MW) and Kayamkulam (92 MW), showing that this is not a one-off effort but part of a broader national shift.
While challenges like higher upfront costs and water quality concerns exist, the long-term benefits are promising. Floating solar offers a powerful alternative where land is limited, helping India move closer to its clean energy goals.
With the sun above and water below, India is now creating a future where solar power floats literally on the surface of progress.
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