PM Surya Sarovar Yojana: floating solar plus storage
Why in the news
On 31 July 2026 the Union Cabinet under PM Narendra Modi cleared a scheme to put solar panels on reservoirs and dams, paired with batteries.
Key facts
- Scheme: Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY), a Central Sector Scheme costing ₹5,070 crore.
- Aim: lift floating solar capacity from about 700 MW to 5,700 MW.
- CFA of ₹1 crore per MW, given after commissioning, offsets the roughly 25% higher capital cost of floating plants.
- Each project needs storage of at least 2 hours to serve evening peak demand and curb curtailment of surplus midday power.
- Up to ₹50 lakh per project for feasibility work: bathymetry, hydrography, yield and aquatic ecology studies.
- Domestic manufacture of floats, anchoring, PV modules and batteries is encouraged.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Floating solar goal | 5,000 MW |
| Storage goal | 10,000 MWh, 2 hours minimum |
| Lead ministry | MNRE |
| Executing body | SECI |
About FSPV
- Solar plants on floating platforms over reservoirs, lakes, ponds, dams and tanks.
- Water cools the panels, lifting efficiency and cutting evaporation; land acquisition needs shrink.
Exam angle
- Type: Central Sector. Window: FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. Coverage: every State and UT.
- Related terms: FSPV, ESS, CFA, curtailment, bathymetry.