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					</table>Floating solar has emerged as an increasingly important segment of the renewable energy sector as developers look to overcome land constraints and improve project economics. Reservoirs, hydropower dams, industrial water bodies, and irrigation ponds are attracting growing interest for solar deployment, supported by policy initiatives and technological advances.
In this interview with Mercom India, Deepak Ushadevi, Managing Director and CEO at <a href="https://ciel-et-terre.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ciel &amp; Terre India</a>, discusses the factors driving floating solar adoption, the engineering challenges associated with large-scale projects, climate resilience considerations, and how innovations are shaping the next phase of market growth.
Floating solar has evolved from a niche technology into a utility-scale renewable energy solution. What factors have driven this transformation, and how do you see the global and Indian floating solar markets evolving over the next five years?
Three forces have driven the transformation of floating solar: land scarcity, technological maturity, and strong policy support. In India, competing land demands have pushed developers towards reservoirs, irrigation tanks, and hydropower dams.
Ciel et Terre pioneered the industry in 2011 with Hydrelio® and has since installed 3.1 GW across 350+ plants in 33+ countries. Our next-generation platform is purpose-built for gigawatt-scale deployment. PM-KUSUM, MNRE floating solar targets, and state-level tenders have strengthened the policy framework. Falling panel prices and our reduced float footprint have narrowed the LCOE gap with ground-mounted solar. Over the next five years, India is on course to become one of the top three global floating solar markets.
Among reservoirs, hydropower dams, irrigation ponds, industrial water bodies, and mining pits, which segments offer the greatest opportunity for floating solar deployment in India, and why?
Reservoirs and hydropower dams offer the greatest near-term opportunity. Across states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, reservoirs combine large surface areas, existing grid connectivity, and government ownership, simplifying land-use agreements. Hydropower dams enable hydro-solar hybridization, with floating solar generating during the day and reducing water drawdown, thereby conserving reservoir capacity for peak demand.
Industrial water bodies are a rapidly growing segment as RPO-obligated companies seek on-site renewable options without acquiring land. Irrigation ponds reduce water evaporation while powering pumps directly, a compelling dual benefit in water-stressed states.
As extreme weather events become more frequent, project resilience is becoming increasingly important. How are design and engineering priorities in floating solar evolving to improve long-term durability, reliability, and climate resilience?
Climate resilience is now a central engineering priority. Every design starts with rigorous site-specific data: peak gust wind speeds, wave-action modeling, and the full range of water-level fluctuations over a 25-year life. Our triangular structural geometry, the same principle used in bridges, distributes forces efficiently across the structure rather than concentrating loads at single failure points, delivering superior stability under wind, wave, and thermal stresses. In some projects, multi-point mooring systems accommodate water-level variations of up to 20 meters while maintaining structural integrity. HDPE floats are UV-stabilized, corrosion-resistant, and flex-tolerant.
FUSIO®&#8217;s compact design also reduces wind-exposed surface area compared with earlier platforms, improving storm survivability. Continuous remote monitoring enables proactive response before anomalies escalate into failures.
FUSIO introduces a honeycomb-based floating structure and a different approach to load distribution. More broadly, how is floating solar technology evolving beyond first-generation designs, and which innovations do you expect to become industry standards over the coming years?
In general, current floating systems are adapted for ground mounting to water, with rigid connections that concentrate stress, limited ventilation, and retrofitted mooring. Our honeycomb-inspired triangular architecture distributes forces across a lattice, delivering superior fatigue resistance under dynamic loading. Its elevated panel layout improves natural airflow, increasing energy yield by 2–3% in warm climates. Submerged cabling benefits from water cooling, extending component lifespan. It offers 5° or 12° tilt and supports modules up to 800 Wp.
Its compact triangular design significantly reduces transport volumes and logistics complexity, making it particularly suitable for remote and large‑scale projects. Streamlined manufacturing processes enable faster lead times, while simplified on‑site assembly supports rapid deployment of large FPV plants.
Its exclusive catamaran-based O&amp;M system enables safe access to every panel and cable without requiring operators to walk the array, setting a new maintenance standard for large-scale floating solar.
What are the key areas of R&amp;D and product innovation that Ciel &amp; Terre is focusing on to support larger, more resilient, and more cost-effective floating solar projects?
Our R&amp;D priorities reflect market demands as projects scale, with a focus on faster installation, lower whole-life costs, and integration with complementary technologies. Modular scalability is a core focus, and ongoing work to improve assembly efficiency is reducing on-water construction time for large arrays.
The catamaran O&amp;M system is being further developed to integrate automated cleaning and inspection.
Floating solar combined with co-located battery storage improves dispatchability and is a growing area of development. Agrivoltaic water-body models that integrate floating solar with aquaculture have strong social and economic potential in Asia. Supply chain localization in India, including the development of local float manufacturing, reduces logistics costs, supports Make in India, and directly improves LCOE for Indian project developers.
India and Southeast Asia have emerged as priority markets for large-scale floating solar deployment. What makes these markets particularly attractive from both a technical and commercial perspective?
India and Southeast Asia combine technical and commercial drivers, making them the world&#8217;s most attractive floating solar markets. Both regions have extensive networks of inland water bodies already connected to power infrastructure. High solar irradiance drives strong energy output, and our elevated panel layout delivers 2–3% higher yield through enhanced thermal regulation, compounding over a 25-year project life.
Commercially, India has committed to 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity; land scarcity makes water-surface deployment increasingly economical. MNRE floating solar guidelines, active state tenders, and growing lender familiarity underpin the investment environment.
Ciel et Terre&#8217;s 3.1 GWp track record across 350+ plants in 33+ countries provides the bankability assurance that developers and financiers require.
Floating solar is often associated with higher energy yields due to the cooling effect of water. In practical terms, how significant is this advantage, and under what project conditions does it have the greatest impact on overall project economics?
The cooling advantage is real and quantifiable. Panels lose about 0.3–0.5% efficiency for every degree Celsius above 25°C; ground-mounted panels in India regularly reach 60–70°c. Floating Solar&#8217;s evaporative cooling keeps panels meaningfully cooler, delivering a 5–15% yield improvement over land-based systems. Our technology goes further; its elevated panel layout enhances airflow, yielding an additional 2–3% gain.
Submerged cabling also benefits from water cooling. For a 100 MW project, a 5% yield gain represents 5 MW of additional effective generation without extra hardware, substantial additional revenue over 25 years, and a directly lower LCOE.
The advantage is greatest in hot climates like India and Southeast Asia, at large-scale utilities, where small percentage gains translate into large absolute volumes, and in hydropower-integrated projects.
As floating solar projects scale from tens of megawatts to hundreds of megawatts, and potentially to gigawatt-scale installations, which operational, engineering, and maintenance challenges become increasingly critical?
Scaling introduces a distinct category of engineering challenge. Anchoring and mooring complexity increases dramatically. A 300 MW array must manage varied tension loads across non-uniform water depths while absorbing dynamic loads without localized failures.
Our system distributes forces more efficiently, reducing peak stress at connection points. Electrical architecture scales in complexity. Its water-cooled submerged cabling reduces heat-related degradation across large arrays. Logistics benefits from its compact design, which reduces transport volumes and accelerates assembly.
For O&amp;M, our maintenance system provides safe access to every panel and cable with integrated cleaning, eliminating the need for operators to walk the structure.
What technical and site-specific risks should developers carefully evaluate before deploying floating solar projects on reservoirs, hydropower dams, industrial water bodies, or nearshore locations?
Floating solar site evaluation is far more complex than for ground-mounted projects. Peak gust wind speeds, not averages, drive mooring and structural design.
Our compact geometry reduces the wind-exposed surface area. Water-level fluctuation ranges must be fully characterized so mooring systems can safely accommodate the full operational envelope. Water chemistry is often underestimated. Aggressive chemicals in industrial water bodies and certain freshwater chemistries can accelerate corrosion if materials are not correctly specified.
Bathymetry, depth profiles, and sediment conditions determine the anchoring approach. Irregular profiles may require multiple anchoring methods within a single array. At hydropower dams, operational protocols constrain design and require close coordination from the outset.
Have geopolitical tensions in East Asia or broader supply chain disruptions affected product availability, delivery timelines, component sourcing, freight costs, or overall project economics for floating solar systems?
The impact has been real. HDPE, the primary float material, is derived from crude oil. Geopolitical tensions have fuelled oil price volatility, driving sharp increases in floating structure costs. Steel, anchoring, mooring, freight, and marine insurance costs have all risen.
Ciel et Terre&#8217;s strategic response is to develop regional manufacturing and supply chains in India, thereby reducing logistics dependence and improving supply certainty. This localization aligns with Make in India priorities and directly improves project economics. Supply chain diversification will enhance resilience, but developers must build realistic risk assumptions into procurement and contract structures.

India Could Be in Top Three Floating Solar Markets in Five Years: Interview

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					</table>Utility-scale ground-mounted solar projects require large tracts of land. With increasing infrastructure development, land in India is becoming not only scarce but also expensive. Installing solar modules on water bodies is increasingly being explored to overcome the challenge of land availability.
Floating solar projects are slowly gaining traction in India and across the world for their unique advantages, including cutting down water evaporation, cooler operating temperatures, and minimizing land use.
However, floating solar projects come with their own set of challenges. Water bodies often witness fluctuating water levels and turbulence, which can impact the structural integrity and stability of solar modules.
Global floating solar company <a href="https://ciel-et-terre.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ciel &amp; Terre</a> commissioned a 120 MW floating solar project at Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, in collaboration with L&amp;T and SJVN Green Energy, to generate power for Rewa Ultra Mega Solar.
The floating solar farm spans 210 acres on the freshwater reservoir and is designed as fourteen individual islands, each generating 8.5 MW of power.
The system incorporates 407,699 Hydrelio floats, which are configured using the aiR OPTIM 1400-3 model in a three-row setup. This configuration plays a vital role in adapting the floating infrastructure to house higher-capacity modules.
Another highlight is the implementation of a rock bolt anchoring system. Traditional methods, such as deadweights or helical anchors, are not effective on uneven or rocky reservoir beds. At Omkareshwar, the underwater terrain is irregular and includes hard rock surfaces, making conventional anchoring unsuitable due to the risk of slipping and displacement. Rock bolt anchoring involves drilling directly into the submerged rock bed to fix the mooring lines, providing a highly secure and stable foundation. This ensures the solar islands remain firmly in place even under heavy water currents and wind loads.
The project also introduced a customized floating inverter barge made from fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP). Traditionally, inverters are placed onshore or on ferrocement barges. However, in floating solar systems, especially where the solar array is positioned far from the land, this results in significant transmission losses. To overcome this, the inverters at Omkareshwar were placed on floating barges located close to the solar arrays.
The use of FRP instead of steel or cement provides several advantages. The material is corrosion-resistant, has a higher strength-to-weight ratio—about 50% more than steel—and offers better durability under harsh environmental conditions. The barge is capable of supporting over 40 tons, making it suitable for housing heavy equipment like power transformers, inverters, and switchgear.
To further bolster the system’s durability, the floats were manufactured using spin welding technology. This method ensures leak-proof joints that can withstand the stress of thermal expansion during high temperatures. By preventing water ingress and cracks, the technology extends the lifespan of the floating structure and maintains its buoyancy and performance even under extreme weather conditions.
The execution of the Omkareshwar project was not without its challenges. The team encountered torrential rains, flooding, gusty winds, intense sun exposure, and a highly irregular rocky underwater surface.
Ciel Et Terre India, MD &amp; CEO, Deepak Ushadevi, said, “When we embarked on this journey, we knew it would be a really challenging and tough project, but we also knew that with the right technology, right team, and right mindset, we would achieve success.”
Recently, Kerala’s Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/kerala-roadmap-develop-floating-solar-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> guidelines to support the development of floating solar projects across the state. It has estimated that the water bodies in Kerala offer up to 6,500 MW of floating solar potential.
Several agencies in India have recently floated tenders for floating solar projects of different capacities. One of the biggest of them was Damodar Valley Corporation’s tender for 234 MW of floating solar projects <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/damodar-valley-corporation-234-mw-floating-solar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> in December 2024.

Ciel & Terre’s 120 MW Floating Solar Project Uses New Anchoring Technique

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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

Ciel et Terre International, a French floating solar specialist, has started its endeavour to increase its footprint in the solar industry of India.
As part of its expansion plans in India, one of the most rapidly growing markets in the world, the company has partnered with a local blow moulder in Aurangabad, Maharashtra to start a 50 MW floating solar manufacturing unit.
It has also opened a new subsidiary, Ciel &amp; Terre India, located in Bangalore to offer the latest Hydrelio solution and make the most of expanding floating solar opportunities in the country.
International Coil Limited has bagged the contract for the engineering procurement construction (EPC) of this project.
Its manufacturing unit will first deliver floats to a 5 MW project on a raw water pond at Sagardighi Thermal Power Project located in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/west-bengal-auctions-5-mw-floating-solar-pv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mercom reported in March 2018 that</a> the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (<a href="http://www.wbpdcl.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WBPDCL</a>) auctioned a 5 MW, grid-connected floating solar project to be developed in the district of Murshidabad.
“Demand for floating solar technology is growing in India and Ciel &amp; Terre is also in discussion with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for a 150 MW floating PV project at the Rihand Dam in Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest dam by volume,” said Stéphane Prouvost, CEO of Ciel &amp; Terre India.
As reported by Mercom in <a href="https://mercomindia.com/seci-100mw-floating-solar-tender/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">March 2018</a>, SECI had tendered 100 MW of floating solar projects to be developed in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Later, the capacity was increased from 100 MW to <a href="https://mercomindia.com/seci-increases-capacity-150mw-floating-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">150 MW</a>.
The projects will be developed on the Rihand Dam, also known as Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar Reservoir, located in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh.
Prouvost further added, “There are two main markets for floating PV in India. First is the captive market, since India has many conglomerates that own huge water bodies and reservoirs like on steel and thermal power industries. Power from the grid for such companies is at ₹6-9 (~$0.087-0.13) per unit, whereas floating solar can offer power at less than ₹5(~$0.073).”
The second major floating solar market in India is for utility-scale tenders put out by distribution companies (DISCOM), he added.
The French company said it will also provide technology solutions along with the design and customize the floating structure to take the shape of the reservoir. It will install the anchoring system after studying local wind conditions, water level variation and soil computation.
Floating solar PV projects are slowly gaining traction in the country. In the past few months, numerous tenders for small-capacity floating solar PV projects have been issued.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/msedcl-expression-interest-1-gw-floating-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Recently</a>, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi3tv6uoJXYAhVD8IMKHepjCLoQFggpMAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mahadiscom.com%2F&amp;usg=AOvVaw2QxivFcdTQaLrnZ2QmlQTP" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MSEDCL</a>) invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) to develop 1,000 MW of floating solar projects.

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