The Government of India is preparing a dedicated policy framework to accelerate floating solar power projects, aiming to unlock the segment’s growth potential and reduce land dependency in solar expansion.

Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), announced the initiative while addressing the 13th Foundation Day event of the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) in New Delhi.

Sarangi stated that the proposed policy is aimed at ensuring land availability does not become a bottleneck in India’s ambitious solar expansion plans. Floating solar projects, which are installed on reservoirs, lakes, and other water bodies, offer an alternative pathway to scale solar generation without competing for valuable land resources.

He highlighted that floating solar systems are often more efficient than land-based installations due to the natural cooling effect of water, which helps improve panel performance and energy generation.

The government is expected to introduce incentives and policy support to encourage states to develop large-scale floating solar infrastructure, a segment that remains significantly underutilised despite its potential.

At the event, Shripad Yesso Naik launched the NSEFI Sustainable Energy Federation of India, a broader platform aimed at integrating renewable energy efforts across power, agriculture, industry, and mobility sectors.

Subrahmanyam Pulipaka said the platform will help align cross-sector initiatives and accelerate India’s progress toward its Net Zero emissions targets.

India’s solar installed capacity has witnessed significant growth, increasing from 2.82 GW in 2014 to 150.26 GW by March 2026. However, floating solar installations account for only around 700 MW, indicating a substantial opportunity for expansion under the new policy framework.

The move reflects India’s broader strategy to diversify solar deployment models and strengthen clean energy infrastructure to meet rising power demand sustainably.