In India, massive floating solar power systems installed on the Omkareshwar Dam on the Narmada River have reached a size visible from space.

Giant solar panels set up on the water’s surface in India are transforming dam reservoirs into energy centers of the future. Floating solar farms, which serve as an alternative to solar energy systems traditionally installed in deserts, have expanded to a size visible even from space. Satellite images reveal the development of floating solar panels located in a dam reservoir on the Narmada River in central India.

An image taken on January 30, 2025 with the OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) camera on the “Landsat 9” satellite shows that the project is in an advanced stage. In contrast, an image from February 10, 2023 for the same region reflects an earlier phase of the project. The dam hosting the project is situated east of the Omkareshwar Dam in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The reservoir connected to the hydroelectric power plant completed in 2007 has a capacity of 987 million cubic meters and covers an area of over 90 square kilometers. In the satellite image from 2025, floating solar panels located in the northeast and southeast arms of the reservoir stand out. These panels are part of two separate projects that went into operation in 2024, with capacities of 126 megawatts and 90 megawatts, respectively. Experts highlight some challenges of floating solar power systems, such as high initial investment costs, sensitivity to natural events, and long-term effects on water quality. Nevertheless, these systems offer significant advantages like preventing evaporation, preventing algae formation, and reducing land requirements.