'Floating' solar farms on water bodies in Delhi, first one at Bawana lake

• After rooftop panels, the Delhi government has come up with a new proposal to generate electricity through solar energy by installing ‘floating solar farms’ in lakes, water bodies and ponds across the city.
• While the project has been started in Telangana and Visakhapatnam, it will be the first in Delhi.

Initiation of the project

• Will start on a pilot basis at Outer Delhi’s Bawana lake: can be installed on natural water bodies and man-made lakes.
• Will require running water with good flow: only then can it successfully generate electricity.
• Capacity at Bawana: can generate about 1 MW power.
• Panels to be installed through IPGCL: “Floaters will first be installed on the water and solar panels will be set up on them.

Benefits of floating solar panels

• Cheaper and more efficient than rooftop ones
• Don’t need land to be acquired to install photovoltaic panels.
• Reduce water evaporation, saving more water for hydropower generation.