MNRE Urges States to Identify and Prioritise Water Bodies for Floating Solar PV Development
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has urged States and Union Territories to consult stakeholders and submit feedback on the draft floating solar potential report and policy prepared by the National Institute of Solar Energy and Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee to accelerate FSPV deployment.
February 21, 2026. By Mrinmoy Dey
The appeal was made during a stakeholder consultation workshop held on February 20, 2026, under the chairmanship of MNRE Joint Secretary J.V.N. Subramanyam. The meeting reviewed the draft documents prepared by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) and the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, aimed at addressing land constraints faced by renewable energy projects and promoting floating solar as an alternative deployment model.
MNRE asked States and UTs to engage departments such as water resources, irrigation, revenue, fisheries, forest, agriculture, discoms, public works, tourism, and pollution control boards to assess site potential and implementation challenges. The consolidated feedback is expected to help refine the national framework for floating solar development.
The Ministry noted that despite strong potential, only around 700 MW of floating solar capacity has been commissioned in India so far, mainly due to the lack of comprehensive site data and a clear execution mechanism. To overcome these barriers, MNRE, along with NISE and IIT Roorkee, has prepared the draft assessment and policy documents.
Discussions at the workshop focused on innovative approaches such as plug-and-play models and the allotment of water bodies with pre-approved clearances to reduce risks for developers and investors.
Based on the potential and policy, States and UTs were encouraged to identify and prioritise suitable reservoirs, lakes, and other water bodies for floating solar projects, enabling systematic capacity addition across regions.
MNRE also indicated that it will hold detailed consultations with agencies including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Wetland Authority, and the National Dam Safety Authority, to finalise the policy based on stakeholder inputs.
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