India's reservoirs can host 102 GW of floating solar capacity: first national assessment

India's reservoirs could accommodate 102 GW of floating solar capacity, according to the country's first comprehensive national assessment on the subject. The report highlights that floating solar systems offer a more land-efficient alternative to ground-mounted installations, which currently dominate India's approximately 100 GW of installed solar capacity.

Ground-mounted solar systems require three to four times more area per megawatt than the panels themselves occupy. By deploying floating solar on reservoir surfaces, India could significantly expand its renewable energy capacity without competing for land resources needed for agriculture and other uses.