Tata Power to pilot membrane-based floating solar with Norway’s Ocean Sun

Tata Power has partnered with Norway-based renewable energy technology company Ocean Sun to undertake a 300 kWp floating solar pilot in India based on Ocean Sun’s membrane-based floating solar technology.

The pilot project will be undertaken at Tata Power’s Mulshi reservoir in Maharashtra. It will evaluate Ocean Sun’s proprietary membrane-based floating solar technology for performance, reliability, cost competitiveness and scalability under Indian conditions, while generating practical operating insights for potential future deployment.

Unlike conventional floating solar systems that typically use interconnected pontoon structures, Ocean Sun’s technology deploys solar PV modules on a thin, hydro-elastic membrane that floats directly on the water surface. The lightweight design has the potential to simplify transportation and installation while reducing structural requirements. The close proximity of the PV modules to the water surface may also provide a cooling effect, which could contribute to improved generation performance.

The 300 kWp pilot will enable Tata Power to evaluate Ocean Sun’s technology against conventional floating solar solutions across key parameters, including energy generation, capacity utilisation factor (CUF), installation methodology and time, reliability, operations and maintenance (O&M) requirements, capital cost and overall commercial viability.

India has significant potential for floating solar deployment. According to estimates by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), the country has more than 102 GWp of floating solar potential, providing a substantial opportunity for the technology to complement ground mounted and rooftop solar as India scales its renewable energy ecosystem. Against this backdrop, technology pilots such as the Mulshi project can help build the technical and commercial evidence base required for wider deployment.