India has identified more than 102 GWp of floating solar photovoltaic (PV) potential, according to a new assessment released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The study increases the country's total assessed solar power potential to 3,445 GWp and highlights the growing role of reservoirs, dams and other water bodies in renewable energy generation.

Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi said the government is working on a dedicated scheme to encourage the development of floating solar projects across the country. Floating solar installations are considered an alternative to land-based projects as they utilize existing water surfaces and can help reduce pressure on land resources.

The ministry has also introduced an online portal in connection with its Small Hydro Power Development Scheme. According to officials, the online portal will enhance transparency and ease the monitoring process. This development comes amid the ministry's decision to introduce the first policy for small hydro projects since 2017.

As per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, renewable energy in India has made huge progress in the last decade. India's non-fossil fuels-based power generation capacity has been increased from 81 GW in 2014 to 288 GW currently, while the installed capacity for solar power generation has been increased from 2.8 GW to 155 GW. In terms of manufacturing, solar modules have a capacity of 192 GW, whereas that for solar cells has touched 30 GW.

According to government statistics, renewable energy is becoming more and more relevant in terms of energy production in India, as India is trying to tackle its increasing energy demand while at the same time minimizing its reliance on fossil fuels. In this regard, initiatives such as PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM have helped promote the use of solar energy.

The minister stated, "India has transformed from a power-deficit nation into a power-surplus nation while emerging as a major renewable energy manufacturing hub."

During the event, the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) and the Military Engineering Services signed a memorandum of understanding to promote renewable energy projects across defence establishments. Under the agreement, NISE will provide technical support for project planning, implementation and performance monitoring.

A report on floating solar potential, the new hydro power portal and the defence sector partnership was among the key announcements made during the event. A book titled "Green Energy and Sustainable Development," authored by Dr. Mohammad Rihan, was also released.

It should be noted that there are also certain advantages in deploying such solar power plants, which include reduced water evaporation in the reservoir and higher efficiency of solar panels due to water cooling effect. Nonetheless, the environmental impact should be evaluated carefully before the large-scale deployment of these installations.

The latest developments take place amid India’s continuous efforts to develop renewable energy generation capacities and domestic renewable energy equipment manufacturing.