Energy · GS3
Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana
One line
The Cabinet approved PM-SSY for 5,000 MW of floating solar projects with energy storage and a stated outlay of ₹5,070 crore.
Summary
Floating solar can use reservoirs and industrial ponds while reducing competition for land. Energy storage can shift electricity across time and improve grid reliability. The technology still needs water-body suitability, anchoring, ecological assessment, and lifecycle planning.
PYQ pattern
UPSC energy questions often test capacity, generation, storage, and environmental trade-offs. Use the official UPSC archive.
Core notes
- Floating photovoltaic systems place solar modules on buoyant structures over suitable water bodies.
- Co-located storage stores electricity for later use. It does not create energy and has efficiency and replacement costs.
- The scheme envisages a minimum of two hours of storage, or 10,000 MWh for the stated 5,000 MW capacity.
- Reservoir evaporation, water quality, fisheries, navigation, biodiversity, and dam operations need site-specific assessment.
Prelims lens
- MW measures power capacity. MWh measures stored or generated energy over time.
- Floating solar is a photovoltaic technology, not solar thermal power.
- A scheme target is different from capacity already commissioned.
MCQ 1
Consider the following statements:
- Floating solar photovoltaic projects use buoyant structures on suitable water bodies.
- Energy storage creates electricity without any input.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 only
- C. Both 1 and 2
- D. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answerHide answer
A
Floating solar places PV modules on water. Storage shifts energy across time but does not create it.
MCQ 2
Which pairing is correct?
- A. MW: power capacity
- B. MWh: legal status of a wetland
- C. PV: coal mining method
- D. ESS: electoral roll
Reveal answerHide answer
A
MW measures power. MWh measures energy over time, including storage capacity or generation.
Mains
Question, 10 marks, 150 words: Can floating solar and energy storage expand renewable energy without creating new ecological risks?
Approach:
- Explain floating PV, storage, capacity, and land-use benefits.
- Discuss grid flexibility, reservoirs, evaporation, and local infrastructure.
- Examine aquatic ecology, fisheries, anchoring, water quality, cost, and recycling.
- Recommend site screening, cumulative assessment, monitoring, community consultation, and lifecycle standards.