Discuss the significance of floating solar photovoltaic projects in India's renewable energy strategy. Examine the rationale and challenges of the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana.

Q. Discuss the significance of floating solar photovoltaic projects in India's renewable energy strategy. Examine the rationale and challenges of the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana. (15 marks, 250-350 words)

India's solar capacity reached 162.15 GW by June 2026, but utility-scale expansion increasingly competes for scarce land [1]. Floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) projects, institutionalised through the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) approved on 31 July 2026, offer a land-neutral pathway to the 500 GW non-fossil target [1][2].

Significance in India's renewable strategy - Untapped scale: NISE assesses 102.18 GWp floating solar potential across reservoirs and inland water bodies — a resource base independent of land acquisition [2]. - Land-use and water conservation: siting on water avoids competition with agriculture and reduces reservoir evaporation [2]. - Grid and climate value: helps sustain record additions — 44.61 GW solar added in FY 2025-26 — supporting the 283.46 GW non-fossil base and net-zero by 2070 [1][3].

Rationale of PM-SSY - Firm renewable power: 5,000 MW FSPV with co-located storage of minimum two hours (10,000 MWh) converts intermittent solar into dispatchable supply, easing discom balancing [2]. - Viability gap support: ₹5,070 crore outlay, with ₹1 crore per MW post-commissioning and ₹50 lakh for feasibility, risk and environmental studies, de-risks a nascent technology [2]. - Manufacturing and jobs: promotes domestic manufacturing and 16,000–17,000 jobs, complementing the PLI push that lifted capacity to 172 GW [1][2]. - Emissions: projected abatement of about 10 million tonnes CO₂ annually [2].

Challenges - Higher capital and O&M costs than ground-mounted solar, plus anchoring and evacuation infrastructure over water. - Ecological uncertainty for aquatic ecosystems — hence the mandated environmental impact studies [2]. - Multi-agency coordination: reservoirs span irrigation departments, state discoms and hydro utilities. - Storage cost and supply-chain dependence for cells and batteries.

FSPV converts India's water bodies into an energy asset without displacing land, and PM-SSY rightly pairs generation with storage. Its success will rest on transparent reservoir allocation, competitive bidding and calibrated environmental safeguards — advancing SDG-7 and the Panchamrit commitments [3].

(~320 words)

Sources: 1. India's Solar Growth Enters a New Era — PIB — 162.15 GW solar capacity, 44.61 GW added in FY 2025-26, 172 GW manufacturing capacity 2. Cabinet approves 'Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY)' for Floating Solar Photovoltaic Projects with Energy Storage Systems, outlay ₹5,070 crore (31 July 2026) — PIB Cabinet Decisions — scheme outlay, 5,000 MW target, 10,000 MWh storage, ₹1 crore/MW support, 102.18 GWp NISE potential, 10 MT CO₂ abatement, 16,000–17,000 jobs 3. India Ranks third globally in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity: Shri Pralhad Joshi — PIB — 283.46 GW non-fossil capacity as on 31.03.2026, 500 GW/net-zero targets 4. Cabinet approves PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for installing rooftop solar in One Crore households — PIB — companion rooftop solar scheme context for India's solar policy mix