The team used GIS-based data (derived in sq km) for all waterbodies in India, referencing the European Commission's Copernicus Programme to evaluate the floating solar potential. The water bodies in protected zones were excluded from the data set, which was limited to those with a usable area larger than 0.015 sq km and a 12-month water availability period. For a 1 MW FPV plant, 0.015 sq km of space is needed.

 

To determine the floating solar potential, the team took into account 3,101 sq km of water body area that met the aforementioned requirements. With a maximum floating solar potential of 40,117 MWp, Madhya Pradesh leads Maharashtra (32,076 MWp). 

 

The project is being supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) and was started under the direction of the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. This project has been led by Ernst and Young LLP (EY LLP), with partners Fraunhofer ISE (Germany) and CSTEP. In order to support the intended expansion of solar PV applications in India, the project intends to investigate the possibility of new and innovative solar applications (NISA) with lower land consumption.