Solar farms are a popular source of clean energy in places that maximize sunlight exposure, like deserts or large fields away from urban areas. But they can also be constructed on water, for example, atop lakes and reservoirs.

Floating solar farms are emerging as alternatives to land installations, and could potentially benefit countries with limited land availability. This innovative way to place solar panels can help preserve land for agriculture, housing or conservation purposes, while still facilitating the production of renewable energy.

Pictures released by NASA show the development of floating solar power arrays on a reservoir of the Narmada River in central India, located east of the Omkareshwar Dam and its associated hydroelectric station in Madhya Pradesh.

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The image on the right shows the reservoir, which spans more than 35 square miles and has a total capacity of 987 million cubic meters, on January 30, 2025. The left picture shows the same area on February 10, 2023, before the floating solar farm was built.

In the 2025 image, solar panel installations can be observed across the reservoir’s northeast and southeast arms, including the two floating solar projects that were commissioned in 2024: a 126-megawatt project and a 90-megawatt project.

Besides saving space, other benefits of floating solar installations include their ability to shade water surfaces, which reduces evaporation and algal bloom. The cool water temperature beneath the panels can also help enhance their efficiency.

However, this technology doesn’t come without its challenges, including higher up-front costs in terms of construction, higher vulnerability to natural events, and possible long-term effects on water quality.

Some experts argue that these installations may disrupt aquatic habitats, restrict access to surface waters for a wide range of species and affect water temperatures, influencing the physiological states and/or behaviors of organisms.

On the other hand, a study by the Center for Marine Biodiversity in California, suggests that these platforms may support marine ecosystems when designed to support artificial reef creation. However, materials involved in the construction of these farms, including micro-plastics, may pose environmental harm.

India has invested in multiple space-saving floating solar farm systems beyond the Omkareshwar Dam reservoir.

One example is the floating solar project in Ramagundam, about 500 kilometers to the southeast, which has a 100-megawatt capacity. Another one is in Kayamkulam, about 1,400 kilometers to the south, with a capacity of 92-megawatt.

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Reference

Benjamins, S., Williamson, B., Billing, S.-L., Yuan, Z., Collu, M., Fox, C., Hobbs, L., Masden, E. A., Cottier-Cook, E. J., & Wilson, B. (2024). Potential environmental impacts of floating solar photovoltaic systems. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.114463

Claus, R., & López, M. (2022). Key issues in the design of floating photovoltaic structures for the marine environment. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112502