Solar Without Land: PM Surya Sarovar Yojana Puts 5 GW on Water and Pairs It With Storage
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Article summary
The Union Cabinet on 31 July 2026 approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana, a scheme for floating solar photovoltaic projects with co-located energy storage, at a total outlay of ₹5,070 crore. It targets 5,000 MW of floating solar capacity paired with storage systems of at least two hours, amounting to 10,000 MWh. Projects will be sanctioned between FY 2026-27 and FY 2030-31, with financial support disbursed up to FY 2032-33, and the Government expects an annual reduction of about 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. The scheme follows a National Institute of Solar Energy assessment placing India's floating solar potential at roughly 102.18 GWp across reservoirs and suitable inland water bodies. For an aspirant, the scheme is best read as a response to two distinct constraints at once: the scarcity of land for utility-scale solar, and the evening ramp that unstorged solar leaves behind.
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Sample questions — answers revealed after test
Q1. The PM Surya Sarovar Yojana approved in July 2026 targets which of the following?
Q2. Why does the scheme mandate at least two hours of energy storage with every floating solar project?
Q3. Consider the following statements about floating solar photovoltaics: 1. Water cooling lowers module operating temperature, so a floating array typically generates somewhat more than an identical ground-mounted array in the same climate. 2. The National Institute of Solar Energy has assessed India's floating solar potential at about 102.18 GWp. 3. Floating solar is preferred over ground-mounted solar principally because it costs less per megawatt to install. Which of the statements given above are correct?