Comrades Editorial · 05 Sep 2026 (PDF)
In this edition
- Powering India’s Solar Future Infrastructure & Energy
Infrastructure & Energy
Powering India’s Solar Future
Source This editorial is based on “India has a solar land problem. Its reservoirs may hold the answer” published in the Economic Times on 03/09/2026. The article highlights that India’s solar boom faces land scarcity and storage hurdles. It advocates utilizing inland water bodies via the Surya Sarovar scheme for land-neutral floating solar generation. The cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana that targets 5 GW of floating solar with energy storage for land-neutral generation. Although India’s solar capacity is surging rapidly, structural hurdles like upstream import dependence and peak-demand intermittency persist. Overcoming these barriers requires implementing value-chain integration and circular-economy reforms, which are vital for ensuring long-term sustainable energy security. PM Surya Sarovar Yojana- About:
- The Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) is a Central government scheme for developing Floating Solar Photovoltaic projects integrated with Energy Storage Systems on reservoirs, industrial ponds and other suitable inland water bodies.
- It is under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
- Key Features:
- Financial Outlay: The scheme has a total Central outlay of ₹5,070 crore.
- Floating Solar Target: It aims to add 5,000 MW of floating solar capacity across India.
- Mandatory Energy Storage: Projects must include co-located storage of at least two hours, creating a minimum aggregate storage capacity of 10,000 MWh.
- Implementation Period: Projects will be sanctioned from 2026–27 to 2030–31. Financial assistance may continue until 2032–33.
- Rationale Behind PM-SSY:
- Enormous Untapped Potential: The National Institute of Solar Energy estimates India’s floating-solar potential at approximately 102.18 GWp, while operational capacity was only around 700 MW when the scheme was approved.
- Land-Neutral Solarisation: Floating panels utilise existing water surfaces and avoid competition between solar projects, agriculture, forests and settlements for scarce land.
- Dispatchable Renewable Energy: Storage allows surplus daytime electricity to be supplied during evening peak demand, improving grid flexibility and reliability.
- Water-Energy Synergy: Floating panels can reduce reservoir evaporation, while the cooling effect of water may improve photovoltaic efficiency.
- Rapid Surge in Cumulative Installed Capacity:
- India’s cumulative solar power capacity reached around 164 GW as of July 2026, rising more than 58 times from only 2.82 GW in 2014.
- India added a record 44.5 GW during 2025–26 (till Nov 2025). Another 14.33 GW was commissioned between April and July 2026.
- According to MNRE and IRENA, India holds the 3rd position globally in installed renewable energy capacity, confirming its emergence as one of the world’s fastest-growing solar markets.
- Dominance of Ground-Mounted Utility-Scale Projects:
- Ground-mounted solar plants account for around 122 GW of installed solar capacity.
- Major projects include the Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan, Pavagada Solar Park in Karnataka and Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Park in Madhya Pradesh.
- Rewa supplies electricity to the Delhi Metro, demonstrating the potential of inter-State green-power trading.
- Large parks facilitate economies of scale, common transmission infrastructure and competitively discovered tariffs.
- Rooftop Solar is Creating Energy Prosumers:
- India’s grid-connected rooftop solar capacity has reached around 30 GW. The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana aims to solarise one crore households.
- More than 43 lakh households had been solarised by June 2026, while approximately 14.8 GW had been commissioned under the scheme by August 2026.
- Households are becoming “prosumers” who generate electricity, meet their own requirements and feed surplus power into the grid.
- Diversification Beyond Conventional Solar Parks:
- India’s solar portfolio includes 4.77 GW under hybrid projects and 6.51 GW under off-grid systems, alongside ground-mounted and rooftop installations.
- The Khavda Renewable Energy Park in Gujarat combines large-scale solar and wind generation within an integrated renewable-energy complex.
- Solar-wind hybridisation improves land and transmission utilisation while reducing variability through complementary generation patterns.
- India’s Solar Hubs:
- Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh account for a significant share of installed capacity due to high solar irradiation, land availability and supportive policies.
- Gujarat pioneered canal-top solar projects, while in Karnataka, the Pavagada Solar Park adopted a land-leasing model that generates recurring income for landowners.
- Eastern, Himalayan and northeastern States remain comparatively underrepresented, indicating a continuing regional solar divide.
- Solarisation of Agriculture Through PM-KUSUM:
- PM-KUSUM promotes decentralised solar plants, stand-alone solar pumps and solarisation of grid-connected agricultural pumps and feeders.
- The scheme was designed to add 34.8 GW of capacity, including 14 lakh stand-alone solar pumps.
- Solar irrigation reduces diesel expenditure and improves daytime power supply. However, unlimited solar pumping may intensify groundwater over-extraction, highlighting the water–energy–food nexus.
- Emergence of Floating Solar and Solar-Plus-Storage:
- India is developing floating solar photovoltaic systems on reservoirs and industrial water bodies to reduce pressure on land.
- The Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project in Madhya Pradesh illustrates reservoir-based electricity generation with the additional potential to limit water evaporation.
- The Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana seeks to develop 5 GW of floating solar capacity with at least 10,000 MWh of energy storage.
- This represents a transition from conventional projects towards land-neutral and dispatchable solar power.
- Growing Domestic Solar-Manufacturing Ecosystem:
- India is transitioning from a major solar market towards a solar-manufacturing hub, with module-manufacturing capacity under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers reaching 100 GW.
- The PLI Scheme for High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules allocated 39.6 GW of capacity to 11 companies under Tranche-II.
- Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are emerging as important manufacturing centres.
- Solar as the Anchor of India’s Energy Transition:
- Solar energy is central to India’s Nationally Determined Contribution targets.
- The Central Electricity Authority estimates that solar capacity may need to reach approximately 364 GW by 2031–32.
- Demand from electric mobility, green hydrogen, data centres and low-carbon industries is positioning solar power at the intersection of energy security, climate action and industrial competitiveness.
- Next-Generation Solar Cells:
- TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact), heterojunction (combine crystalline silicon and amorphous thin-film silicon layers into a single hybrid “sandwich” structure) and perovskite-silicon tandem cells can capture a wider range of sunlight and deliver higher efficiency than conventional crystalline-silicon modules.
- The Department of Science and Technology has supported research on perovskites, quantum dots, graphene and tandem-cell architectures.
- Bifacial Modules and Solar Trackers:
- Bifacial panels generate electricity from direct sunlight falling on the front and reflected radiation reaching the rear surface.
- These technologies are particularly suitable for high-radiation and reflective landscapes such as Rajasthan, Gujarat and Ladakh.
- Floating Solar Revolution:
- Floating photovoltaic systems place panels on reservoirs, reducing land acquisition while limiting water evaporation and improving panel efficiency through natural cooling.
- Ramagundam Floating Solar Power Plant in Telangana is a prime example.
- Agrivoltaics and Solar Farming: Elevated or stilt-mounted panels allow electricity generation and cultivation on the same land. Panels can reduce heat stress and excessive evaporation for shade-tolerant crops.
- Canal-Top and Land-Neutral Solar:
- Panels installed over canals simultaneously generate electricity, conserve scarce land and reduce evaporation.
- Similar installations can be developed over highways, railway stations, parking areas, industrial rooftops and irrigation infrastructure.
- Solar-to-Hydrogen and Productive Applications: Low-cost solar electricity can power electrolysers to produce green hydrogen, providing clean fuel for fertilisers, refineries, steel and heavy transport.
- Upstream Import Dependence and China-Centric Supply Chains:
- India’s module-assembly capacity has expanded rapidly, but the domestic value chain remains weak in polysilicon, ingots, wafers, solar cells and specialised manufacturing equipment.
- China dominates several upstream stages of global solar manufacturing. Trade restrictions, geopolitical tensions or shipping disruptions can therefore raise Indian project costs and delay installations.
- Despite some decline, India still relies on China for over 50% of its solar cells and modules, with imports worth nearly $4 billion in FY2024. (DTE-July 2025)
- This produces “assembly-led self-reliance”, where domestic modules continue to incorporate imported upstream inputs.
- Module-Capacity Growth Without Vertical Integration:
- Domestic module-manufacturing capacity has expanded faster than the capacity for producing cells, wafers and polysilicon. Such an inverted manufacturing pyramid creates excess module capacity while preserving dependence on imported intermediate inputs.
- Smaller manufacturers also face the risk of technological obsolescence as the industry shifts from conventional mono-PERC modules towards TOPCon, heterojunction and other high-efficiency technologies.
- Therefore, headline manufacturing capacity does not necessarily indicate a globally competitive farm-to-factory solar value chain.
- Intermittency and the Emerging Duck Curve:
- Solar generation peaks around midday, while India’s electricity demand frequently rises during the evening when solar output declines sharply.
- This creates the “duck curve”, characterised by daytime surplus generation followed by a steep evening ramp in demand.
- The mismatch means that installed capacity is not equivalent to firm capacity, limiting solar energy’s ability to provide uninterrupted power.
- Transmission Congestion and Renewable-Energy Curtailment:
- Solar capacity is concentrated in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka, while major consumption centres are located across northern, western and southern industrial corridors. This produces a generation–evacuation mismatch.
- Around 11 GW of wind and solar capacity in Rajasthan and Gujarat faced severe curtailment linked with delayed transmission development.
- The resulting “stranded green electrons” reduce plant utilisation and undermine investor returns.
- Land Intensity and Socio-Ecological Conflicts:
- Utility-scale solar projects generally require around 1.2–2 hectares of land per MW, creating substantial cumulative demand for land.
- Projects may compete with agriculture, pastoralism, common property resources, biodiversity and local livelihoods, particularly in arid landscapes incorrectly classified as “wastelands”.
- Solar infrastructure in Rajasthan and Gujarat can affect grazing routes and habitats of vulnerable species such as the Great Indian Bustard.
- Thus, apparently “land-neutral” clean energy may produce green grabbing and environmental-justice concerns.
- Growing Solar-Waste and Recycling Burden:
- Solar panels have an operational life of about 20–25 years, but damaged, defective and prematurely retired modules are already entering the waste stream.
- An MNRE-supported estimate projects that cumulative waste from India’s existing and proposed solar installations could reach around 600 kilotonnes by 2030.
- Approximately 67% of this waste is expected from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Dependence on Critical Minerals and Foreign Technology:
- Solar modules, inverters, batteries and grid equipment require silver, copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, gallium, indium and rare-earth elements.
- Many of these supply chains are geographically concentrated, exposing India to mineral nationalism, export controls and price volatility.
- Solar energy may reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels while creating a new form of electro-mineral dependence.
- Water Use and Performance Losses in Harsh Climates:
- Solar panels require periodic cleaning because dust accumulation lowers electricity output, particularly in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
- Conventional wet cleaning can impose pressure on scarce water resources in arid regions where many ultra-mega solar parks are located.
- Extreme heat also reduces photovoltaic conversion efficiency and accelerates equipment degradation.
- Dust storms, high temperatures and water scarcity create a solar paradox, where India’s most solar-rich regions are also among the most environmentally challenging locations for maintaining panels.
- Build a Fully Integrated Polysilicon-to-Module Value Chain:
- India must progress from module assembly to vertical integration covering polysilicon, ingots, wafers, cells, modules, glass, backsheets and inverters.
- The PLI Scheme for High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules should prioritise actual domestic value addition, technology efficiency and upstream production instead of rewarding only final assembly.
- Dedicated Solar Manufacturing Clusters with common testing laboratories, reliable power and port connectivity can create economies of scale.
- This would replace “assembly-led self-reliance” with technology-led solar sovereignty.
- Create a National Solar-Storage Obligation:
- Solar projects above a prescribed capacity should progressively include co-located Battery Energy Storage Systems or pumped-storage capacity.
- Time-of-day tariffs should reward projects supplying electricity during the evening peak rather than merely generating low-cost midday power.
- This would shift procurement from “cheapest solar” to “dispatchable solar”.
- Introduce a Solar-Land and Livelihood Compact:
- States should create solar-land banks based on satellite mapping that exclude productive farmland, wildlife corridors, grazing commons and ecologically sensitive habitats.
- Agrivoltaics should permit cultivation or grazing beneath elevated panels, combining electricity generation with farm income.
- Land policy must replace the misleading category of “wasteland” with socio-ecological land valuation.
- Establish a Solar Circular-Economy Framework:
- Every module should carry a Digital Solar Passport recording its manufacturer, material composition, installation date, ownership and end-of-life responsibility.
- Extended Producer Responsibility certificates should be linked to verified physical collection and material recovery.
- Regional solar-recycling hubs should recover aluminium, glass, silicon, silver and copper from retired panels. A deposit-refund mechanism can discourage dumping and create a viable urban-mining ecosystem.
- Develop Indigenous Next-Generation Solar Technologies:
- Public research funding should support TOPCon, heterojunction, perovskite-silicon tandem cells, bifacial modules, solar thermal storage and recyclable panel design.
- Mission-mode collaboration between IITs, IISc, National Institute of Solar Energy, CSIR laboratories and industry can bridge the laboratory-to-market gap.
- India must move from “Make in India” to “Invent and Own in India”, particularly through indigenous patents and production equipment.
- Create a Dedicated Green-Finance Architecture:
- Green bonds, blended finance, sovereign guarantees, infrastructure investment trusts and priority-sector lending can mobilise patient capital to reduce the cost of capital in India.
- Foreign-exchange hedging facilities are needed because imported technology and overseas borrowing expose developers to currency risk.
- A national Solar Credit Guarantee Fund can improve financing access for MSMEs, housing societies and rural cooperatives.
- Reform PM-KUSUM Around the Water–Energy–Food Nexus:
- PM-KUSUM should incorporate smart meters, groundwater budgeting, efficient irrigation and incentives for selling surplus electricity.
- Feed-in tariffs can make “selling electricity more profitable than pumping groundwater”, aligning farmers’ income with aquifer conservation.
- Solar pumps should be integrated with micro-irrigation, farm ponds, crop diversification and community water-user associations.
- India’s rapid solar energy ascent, anchored by massive capacity expansion, rooftop prosumer networks, and the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana, represents a paradigm shift toward land-neutral, dispatchable generation. However, realizing the 500 GW non-fossil target by 2030 requires overcoming critical structural hurdles like upstream import dependencies, grid transmission congestion, the evening “duck curve,” and socio-ecological land-water conflicts. Ultimately, balancing aggressive technological scaling with domestic value-chain integration, circular-economy waste management, and robust ecosystem safeguards will determine the long-term success of India’s green transition.