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					</table>To achieve India&#8217;s national targets for solar capacity additions, alternatives such as the floating solar need to be explored and established, considering their lower levelized cost of electricity and operation and maintenance costs, which is further complemented by easier deployment, Deepak Ushadevi &#8211; MD &amp; CEO &#8211; <a href="https://ciel-et-terre.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ciel &amp; Terre India</a>, said in an interview on the sidelines of the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/india-urgency-meet-clean-energy-transition-targets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Renewables Summit 2023</a>.
Here are excerpts from the interview.
What is the driving factor for adopting floating solar solutions?
Traditional roof and ground mount utility projects face land scarcity issues, leading to wind and floating solar as new alternatives that reduce carbon footprint and offer solutions.
The challenge is to preserve land and minimize delays in acquiring it for organizations and infrastructure development. So, we need to explore new solutions, including tapping into the potential of floating solar in inland water bodies.
It allows us to install solar panels over water, preserving land and water while being an excellent alternative replacement for traditional solar panels from social, economic, and biological perspectives.
The extra 5-7% generation from floating solar due to panel cooling also reduces the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE).
In India, many dams and reservoirs have great potential for floating solar. In recent years, the maximum capacity of floating solar projects has increased from 2 MW to 500 MW.
Currently, 2 GW of floating solar tenders are already auctioned, and we expect to see 2-3 GW of floating projects in India in the next 2-3 years.
Globally, in the next three years, over 77% of the floating projects, equivalent to around 11.50 GW, will occur in Asia, particularly in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
How do companies identify states with inland water bodies suitable for floating solar projects? 
We do not face any issues with water bodies in India. According to data, we have 5,534 available dams and reservoirs.
Even if we use only 40% to 50% of them, we can generate over 200 GW of power from these projects. In addition, we have backwaters and both manual and non-manual reservoirs, providing us with plenty of options. We can optimize capacity utilization by considering dams and reservoirs for floating solar and natural hydropower.
The existing infrastructure for dams with power infrastructure available eliminates the need for additional power infrastructures.
We can use the dams and reservoirs as they are, and there is no need for road filling, approach ways, or other ground modes.
A hybrid model combining floating solar and natural hydropower can be used, where floating solar can be used during the day and hydropower at night. This way, we consider both sources and use optimized operational ways to complement each other.
What are the cost savings and efficiency gains with floating solar projects?
Looking at it from a cross-functional perspective, ground-mounted solar structures require the use of purlins and rafters, along with piling work.
On the other hand, we need to use anchoring, mooring, and hearing anchors for floating solar projects to withstand high winds, depths, waves, currents, water level variations, droughts, floods, and more.
It is the most expensive part of the project. However, we also get extra generation capacity over 25 years, which offsets the additional cost.
As a company with a globally recognized portfolio of over 300 projects completed in 32 countries across five continents, with a 1.7 GW portfolio, we are experts in the field.
Delay in land acquisition is a major issue nowadays, but the government owns water bodies, so there are no issues related to land acquisition.
In addition, we use only 4 to 5% of the water reserves, minimizing any impact. We also conduct detailed studies to ensure that flora and fauna are unaffected and fishermen&#8217;s activities are not hindered. Fish breeding is more effective under the cooling effects of floating solar structures.
Which states are at the forefront of exploring floating solar solutions?
RUMSL, a part of the Madhya Pradesh government, has awarded a 600 MW project. Phase one is in Omkareshwar.
Odisha and Kerala have also tendered 2-3 projects each. NTPC has put forward more than 300 projects, including a 1 GW project in Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC).
Initially, there were questions, apprehensions, and teething issues regarding who will take care of the first project.
However, the project has started, more tenders are being issued, and stakeholders feel confident that this is a viable alternative.
Most state governments are asking us about the feasibility and possibility of the project, with some already in the tendering stage.
Could you tell us about the average cost of power for floating solar projects?
The average power cost is around ₹3.15 (~$0.038)/kWh &#8211; ₹3.3 (~$0.040)/kWh, which is the PPA (power purchase agreement) signing-off rate.
However, some variations may be based on the availability of modules, BCD (Basic Customs Duty), ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers), and other factors that affect transactions and cause minor delays.
The cost difference between ground-mounted and floating structures is only 7 to 10%, with the latter being slightly more expensive due to its technology. However, over time, the cost difference will be offset by savings in operation and maintenance costs.
Currently, the availability of modules is a major concern, with more than 60% of them being imported and the BOS part accounting for around 75 to 80% of the overall cost. However, even with these factors, the power cost of ₹3.15 (~$0.038)/ kWh is still considered reasonable by many states.
Additionally, selling excess energy at a rate of ₹5 (~$0.061)/kWh can help offset the cost of power bought at a lower rate. Over the years, the power cost has decreased from around ₹4 (~$0.049)/kWh to the current rate.
(Note: Sections of the interview have been paraphrased for better reading. Check out the video for a full chat)<iframe loading="lazy" title="Deepak Ushadevi" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/827633004?h=64ae6e176b&amp;badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" width="100%" height="500" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Higher Generation and Lower Landed Cost Make Floating Solar Appealing: Interview

According to a new study, floating solar farms could help protect lakes and reservoirs from some of the harms of climate change.
Scientists from <a href="https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lancaster University</a> and the <a href="https://www.stir.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Stirling</a> have completed the first detailed modeling of the environmental effects of floating solar installations on water bodies.
Their results show that floating solar arrays can cool water temperatures by shading the water from the sun. At scale, this could help to mitigate against harmful effects caused by global warming, such as blooms of toxic blue-green algae and increased water evaporation, which could threaten water supply in some regions.
The scientists found that floating solar installations also reduce the duration of &#8216;stratification&#8217; &#8212; this is where the sun heats the water, forming distinct layers of water at different temperatures. This tends to happen more in the warmer summer months and can result in the bottom layer of water becoming deoxygenated.
However, the picture is complex, and there are also conditions under which stratification, and therefore detrimental water quality impacts, could increase if floating solar farms are deployed.
There are three commercial-size floating solar arrays in the U.K. and hundreds more across the world. The number of installations is likely to grow significantly in the coming decades as demand rises for renewable energy sources, with more countries committing to net-zero carbon targets.
However, little is known about the impacts &#8211; both positive and negative &#8211; these floating solar farms have on the lakes and reservoirs.
&#8220;As demand for land increases, water bodies are increasingly being targeted for renewable energy. Deployment of solar on water increases electricity production, but it is critical to know if there will be any positive or negative environmental consequences,&#8221; said Giles Exley, lead author from Lancaster University.
&#8220;Given the relative immaturity of floating solar farms, it is important to further scientific evidence of the impacts. Our results provide initial insight of the key effects that will help inform waterbody manager and policymaker decisions.&#8221;
The research team undertook computer modeling using the MyLake simulation program and data collected by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology from England&#8217;s largest lake, Windermere. Although the researchers believe it is unlikely floating solar farms will be deployed on Windermere, it presents a rich dataset as it is one of the most comprehensively studied lakes in the world.
Exley said: &#8220;The effects of floating solar on the temperature of the water body and stratification, both of which are major drivers of biological and chemical processes, could be comparable in magnitude to the changes lakes will experience with climate change. Floating solar could help to mitigate against the negative effects global warming will have on these bodies of water.&#8221;
&#8220;However, there are also real risks of detrimental impacts, such as deoxygenation causing undesirable increases in nutrient concentrations and killing fish. We need to do more research to understand the likelihood of both positive and negative impacts.&#8221;
The effects on water temperature increased the larger the solar installation, with small arrays of less than ten percent of the lake surface generally having minimal impacts. However, this model concentrated on one lake. Further studies will be needed to determine the optimum size array, design, and effects for individual lakes and reservoirs &#8211; all of which have unique characteristics. Different designs of solar installations also have different shading and sheltering effects for the sun and wind.
Arrays covering more than 90% of a lake could increase the lake&#8217;s chances of freezing over in winter, the study found. However, these effects would also be specific to the body of water and design of the installation and require further research.
Conventional solar farms are controversial due to the amount of land they take up. This leads to increased interest in floating solar farms, given the additional space that water bodies provide.
Floating solar has gained traction in India mainly due to the availability of many dams, lakes, and reservoirs where such projects can be easily installed, given the increasing difficulty in <a href="https://mercomindia.com/land-impediment-large-scale-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquiring</a> land to develop large-scale projects.
According to a <a href="https://mercomindia.com/floating-solar-hydropower-projects/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research</a> report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (<a href="https://www.nrel.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NREL</a>), the addition of floating solar projects on the top of water bodies, which already have hydropower stations, can annually generate around 7.6 TW of clean energy from the solar photovoltaic systems alone.

Floating Solar Projects Could Help Reduce Impact of Climate Change on Lakes

The Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (<a href="http://seci.co.in/index.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SECI</a>) has issued a tender for utilization of water bodies (reservoirs, dams, lakes) in Tamil Nadu for development of 250 MW floating solar PV capacity.
The detailed Request for Selection (RfS) will be available for downloading by March 29, 2019.
As implementing agencies and developers both grapple with the issue of land availability, floating solar PV tenders are on the rise as India has a large number of reservoirs, lakes, dams where floating solar PV could be deployed.
On the first day of <a href="https://mercomindia.com/seci-3-solar-tenders-1-4-gw/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">March 2019</a>, SECI had issued a tender for setting up 150 MW of floating solar PV projects in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Out of 150 MW, 100 MW floating solar power project was to be developed at the reservoir of Getalsud Dam and 50 MW floating solar power project, at the reservoir at Dhurwa Dam.
On <a href="https://mercomindia.com/seci-3-solar-tenders-1-4-gw/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">March 1, 2019</a>, SECI also issued another lot of tenders. The tenders were for setting up 750 MW of grid-connected solar PV power projects in Rajasthan (Tranche-II Non-Solar Park), for 500 MW of grid-connected solar power projects in Tamil Nadu (Phase-1, Non-Solar Park).
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/seci-floating-solar-lakshadweep-bess/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">In February 2019</a>, SECI issued a tender for 20 MW of floating solar PV projects with 60 MW Battery Energy Storage System on a turnkey basis in the union territory of Lakshadweep.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/ntpc-15-mw-floating-solar-tender-himachal-pradesh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">In January 2019</a>, National Thermal Power Corporation (<a href="https://www.ntpc.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NTPC</a>) invited bids for a 15 MW of grid-connected floating solar project at its Koldam hydroelectric power project (HEPP), located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ntpc-floating-solar-tender-20-mw/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The same month</a>, NTPC also invited bids for a 20 MW grid-connected floating solar PV project at its Anta gas power station in Rajasthan.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/seci-tender-solar-hybrid-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Towards the end of February 2019</a>, the sector witnessed a bouquet of tenders issued by SECI. SECI issued a lot of three tenders- one for 1,200 MW of ISTS-connected solar power projects (tranche-IV), one for 1,200 MW ISTS-connected solar-wind hybrid power projects (tranche-II), and one for the 1,200 MW ISTS-connected solar power projects with 3,600 MWh storage (ISTS-V).

SECI to Announce 250 MW Floating Solar Tender for Tamil Nadu

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