An ANERT official said FPV systems would play a crucial role in helping Kerala achieve its target of adding three gigawatts (GW) of capacity over the next two years.
Published May 14, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated May 14, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Floating solar power project of 101.6 MWp in Kayamkulam, Kerala. (Tata Power Solar)
Synopsis: Kerala is planning to install floating photovoltaics on the surfaces of its reservoirs, backwaters, and abandoned quarries. It aims to achieve 3,000 MW by 2025, riding on the state’s advantage of nearly 300 sunny days a year.
As Kerala grapples with a widening gap between its rising power demand and limited generation capacity, it is aiming to cast its net wider in the hunt for sustainable solutions.
Traditionally reliant on hydroelectric power, Kerala is now banking on the sun, not just from rooftops but also from the shimmering surfaces of its reservoirs, backwaters, and abandoned quarries.
Floating solar or floating photovoltaics (FPV), seen as the next frontier in renewable energy, are planned to be placed across the state. Yet, even as hopes float high, the initiative faces its share of rough waters.
Kerala’s ambitious foray into FPV projects — solar power plants installed atop water bodies — traces its roots to the state’s 2013 Solar Energy Policy, which identified FPV as a key opportunity for harnessing renewable energy while conserving precious land.
With a solar potential exceeding 6,000 megawatt (MW), Kerala aims to achieve 3,000 MW by 2025, riding on the state’s advantage of nearly 300 sunny days a year.
According to the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT), an autonomous agency under the state Power Department, FPV projects are being planned across reservoirs, backwaters, disused quarries, mining pits, and other water bodies unfit for agriculture.
While floating systems come with a 10-15 percent higher capital cost than land-based solar, they offer five to 10 percent higher generation efficiency, thanks to the natural cooling effect of water and added benefits like reduced evaporation.
ANERT estimates that by tapping just 10 percent of the surface area in the reservoirs managed by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and the Water Resources Department, the state could unlock up to 5,000 MW of solar power.
Another 1,500 MW could be generated by utilising 10 percent of backwaters and other idle water bodies — a clean energy move poised to reshape the state’s renewable landscape.
An ANERT official told South First that FPV systems would play a crucial role in helping Kerala achieve its target of adding three gigawatts (GW) of capacity over the next two years.
“Since these installations are on water bodies and water-logged lands, they can be classified as temporary structures, and therefore do not attract provisions of the Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act or the Coastal Regulation Zone norms, making them a highly feasible and environment-friendly option for renewable energy expansion in the state.”
Floating Solar Project at Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh. (Tata Power Solar)
Clearing doubts over the contention that FPV will disrupt the marine ecosystem, the official said: “The gaps in the floating solar structures allow sunlight to reach the water surface, supporting the aquatic ecosystem and potentially enhancing fish hatching and biodiversity beneath them. These floating panels can act as artificial reefs and fish aggregation devices, contributing to the restoration of degraded aquatic ecosystems.”
Meanwhile, ANERT also pointed out that Kerala faces a unique challenge as it lacks large open areas for setting up ground-based, megawatt-level solar power plants.
As a result, the state has mainly relied on small, rooftop solar systems to boost its renewable energy capacity.
“With limited space for expanding power generation, Kerala is now exploring newer options like floating solar power plants, which make smart use of water bodies without needing valuable land — an ideal solution for a state with such space constraints and environmental sensitivities,” added the official.
While FPV projects are emerging as a promising clean energy solution, especially for water-abundant regions, the government is treading cautiously, mindful of the complex challenges they present.
Official guidelines for FPV development highlight concerns such as the disruption of livelihoods dependent on natural water bodies like lakes and backwaters, where fishing and water transport are integral to local communities.
In areas where agricultural lands have turned saline and uncultivable due to sand and clay mining, deploying floating solar structures calls for careful planning — possibly a hybrid approach combining land-based and floating systems, while ensuring that the provisions for such projects aren’t misused.
The technical hurdles are no less daunting; drastically fluctuating water levels in reservoirs complicate both mooring and power evacuation.
Moreover, the intermittent nature of solar energy demands robust solutions for grid stability, with policymakers now looking at integrated storage options like pumped hydro and green hydrogen alongside enhanced Renewable Purchase Obligations.
It’s learnt that FPV projects in Kerala will be implemented through a structured, multi-tiered governance framework to ensure coordinated development and efficient execution.
Oversight at the state level will be handled by a High-Level Committee (HLC), chaired by the Chief Secretary and comprising Secretaries of key departments, including Power, Environment, Water Resources, and Finance, with the CEO of ANERT as a member.
ANERT will function as the coordinating agency for all floating solar initiatives in the state.
At the district level, District Collectors will lead District Level Committees (DLCs), bringing together officials from relevant departments to facilitate the development of smaller plants with capacities up to five megawatt.
Project proposals for floating solar plants will be processed in three modes: Through government-issued tenders or EOIs, direct applications from developers and proposals for identified Land Bank sites.
Notably, for FPV plants established on reservoirs managed by the Water Resources Department or Kerala Water Authority (KWA), these agencies will have the first right to consume the power generated, with KSEB retaining the right of first refusal for other projects, in line with the state’s solar policy.
“Floating solar technology drew inspiration from the dual challenges of land scarcity and the need for water conservation, particularly in regions where space for large-scale renewable projects is limited,” an official of the Power Department said.
“Globally, this concept has gained traction as a sustainable energy solution, offering distinct advantages over conventional land-based systems. It helps address land constraints, improves energy efficiency due to the cooling effect of water, and offers certain environmental co-benefits,” added the official.
However, the official pointed out that floating solar projects are 25-50 percent costlier to install because of the specialised floating platforms, mooring systems, and waterproofing involved.
‘Their suitability is location-specific; water bodies with strong currents, waves, ice formation, or fluctuating levels aren’t ideal,” the official added.
Cautioning about ecological implications, they noted that long-term impacts on aquatic ecosystems, like changes in water quality or oxygen levels, are still being studied.
The official highlighted that while Asia leads in the deployment of such projects, India too has made significant strides, with plants like the Ramagundam project in Telangana, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala’s own Kayamkulam Floating Solar Power Plant, which has a capacity of 101.6 megawatt-peak (MWp).
As Kerala navigates its energy transition, floating solar power emerges as a smart, space-saving, and sustainable option tailored to the state’s geographic and environmental realities.
While the promise is bright — offering clean energy without consuming precious land — success will hinge on striking the right balance between technical feasibility, ecological safeguards, and community livelihoods.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
