Floating solar (FPV) has evolved from a niche innovation to one of the most promising segments of the renewable energy industry. With over 3 GW of installed capacity globally (Market Growth Reports, 2024) and approximately 434 MW in India (Ciel et Terre, 2024) , the technology is entering a phase where consistent design standards are critical for reliability, safety, and bankability. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) estimates that India’s total potential for floating solar exceeds 100 GW (TERI, 2024) , underscoring the scale of opportunity if standardized practices guide future deployment.
Unlike ground-mounted systems, floating PV operates in constantly changing aquatic environments. Wind loads, wave action, humidity, and water-level variation create mechanical and electrical challenges that demand careful engineering. Effective system design starts with comprehensive site assessment—covering water depth, sediment type, current flow, and seasonal level fluctuation. These parameters directly affect anchoring design, mooring configuration, and long-term platform stability.
Material and component durability form the next design priority. Continuous exposure to moisture, UV radiation, and corrosion requires enhanced protection—such as marine-grade cabling, double-glass modules, and anti-corrosive structural materials. Thermal and mechanical stresses must also be addressed through proper ventilation and expansion allowances.
A successful FPV project integrates mechanical, electrical, and environmental design seamlessly. The array layout should maintain water circulation, minimize shading, and ensure easy access for maintenance. Environmental considerations include preserving water quality, limiting bio-growth, and planning for safe end-of-life disposal or recycling of float materials.
As deployment scales up, standardization and certification are essential for investor confidence. Uniform design documentation, load-calculation methods, and testing procedures allow objective risk evaluation across projects. Establishing harmonized engineering practices will also support insurance underwriting and financial due diligence.
Performance studies over the past few years highlight the growing technical maturity of floating solar systems. Ravichandran N et al. (2021) conducted a detailed assessment of a proposed FPV installation at the Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu, showing that optimized tilt and tracking designs can enhance generation efficiency and achieve about 12.5 % higher CO₂ savings than fixed-mount configurations. Deo S (2023) extended the analysis through case studies of India’s Kayamkulam project and Japan’s Yamakura Dam FPV plant, identifying comparable performance gains and notable environmental benefits, including water conservation and reduced land use. More recently, Anusuya K et al. (2024) compared FPV and ground-mounted PV systems across multiple Indian regions and found 2–3.9 % higher energy output from FPV arrays due to lower operating temperatures and reduced soiling losses. Together, these studies confirm that well-designed FPV systems deliver measurable efficiency gains and sustainability advantages across different climatic and hydrological settings.
Ultimately, floating solar represents a convergence of solar engineering and marine science. Developing and adopting clear design standards will help accelerate deployment, reduce lifecycle costs, and make FPV a reliable, sustainable contributor to global and national renewable energy targets.