Odisha to tap water bodies for floating solar power projects to tackle land scarcity: GRIDCO

Mahesh Das, the Chief Project Manager of Grid Corporation of Odisha Ltd (GRIDCO), stated that Odisha is planning a major shift in its renewable energy strategy by tapping water bodies for floating solar power projects, citing acute land scarcity for ground-mounted plants.

Speaking on the initiative, Das said that most of Odisha’s land is either used for agriculture or falls under forest cover, leaving little scope for large solar parks on land. “Odisha has fertile land primarily meant for cultivation, while nearly 18–30 per cent is forest or used for other purposes. We simply do not have large stretches available for ground-mounted solar plants,” he said.

Floating Solar to Address Land Constraints

To overcome this challenge, the state has reportedly planned to install solar panels on floating platforms across reservoirs and other water bodies. Odisha has around 185 water bodies, including major, medium and minor reservoirs, which are now being assessed for floating solar development.

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Das further said that floating solar technology is well-established and offers operational advantages. “Panels will be mounted on floaters over water bodies. This improves efficiency due to the cooling effect of water and also reduces cleaning requirements,” he explained. 

Mega Projects Planned Across Reservoirs

GRIDCO has already floated a tender for a 1,000-megawatt floating solar project at the Rengali reservoir for captive use. The state is also planning a 225 MW project at Upper Indravati and a 1.5 GW project at the Hirakud reservoir. “We are looking at holistically developing these water bodies,” Das said.

Push for Green Energy, Lower Emissions

Emphasising the environmental need, Das said expanding green energy is critical to cutting carbon emissions. “Odisha produces nearly 30 per cent of India’s steel, which also means significant carbon dioxide emissions. Reducing this is impossible without scaling up renewable energy,” he added.

The floating solar push is expected to strengthen Odisha’s clean energy capacity while preserving vital land resources.

(With Inputs from ANI)