Tata Power has partnered with Norway-based renewable energy technology company Ocean Sun to introduce membrane-based floating solar technology in India. Under the agreement, the companies will undertake a floating solar pilot project with a capacity of approximately 300 kWp at Tata Power’s Mulshi reservoir in Maharashtra.
The collaboration agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 2nd India–EFTA Prosperity Summit, highlighting growing cooperation between India, Norway and other European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries in clean energy, technology and innovation. The pilot project will assess Ocean Sun’s patented floating solar technology under Indian operating conditions. The companies will examine its performance, reliability, installation requirements, cost competitiveness and potential for large-scale deployment.
India has substantial potential for floating solar power. According to estimates by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), the country has more than 102 GWp of floating solar potential. This technology can complement conventional ground-mounted and rooftop solar installations as India expands its renewable energy capacity.
Unlike conventional floating solar systems that use interconnected pontoons to support solar panels, Ocean Sun’s technology places photovoltaic modules on a thin, hydro-elastic membrane floating directly on the water surface. The design is intended to reduce structural requirements and simplify transportation and installation.
The proximity of the solar modules to the water surface may also provide a cooling effect, potentially improving power generation performance. The pilot will help determine how these features perform under local weather and operating conditions. Tata Power and Ocean Sun will evaluate several parameters, including energy generation, capacity utilisation factor, installation time, operations and maintenance requirements, capital costs and overall commercial viability. The findings will help determine the technology’s suitability for future floating solar projects in India.
Dr Praveer Sinha, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Power, said, “At Tata Power, innovation is central to accelerating India’s clean energy transition. Our collaboration with Ocean Sun reflects our commitment to bringing advanced global technologies to India and evaluating their potential in real-world conditions. Through this floating solar pilot, we aim to generate valuable operating insights and assess its potential to deliver reliable, scalable and cost-effective clean power solutions.”
Kristian Tørvold, CEO of Ocean Sun, said India is an attractive market for floating solar but requires strong local execution capabilities. He added that Tata Power’s experience and understanding of the Indian market would support the collaboration. Floating solar installations can help generate renewable electricity from suitable water bodies without requiring large areas of additional land. They may also help reduce water evaporation and improve solar panel performance under suitable conditions.
Tata Power has a diversified presence across power generation, transmission, distribution, renewable energy, manufacturing and electric vehicle charging. Its operational and under-construction capacity exceeds 26 GW, including approximately 17.7 GW of clean and green energy capacity.
Ocean Sun develops floating solar solutions combining Norwegian maritime engineering with photovoltaic technology. The company has offices in Oslo, Singapore and Shanghai. The Mulshi pilot marks a step towards evaluating alternative floating solar technologies and identifying opportunities to expand their use in India’s renewable energy sector.
