Floating solar array over Gujarat canal cuts evaporation and generates power

Near Chandrasan village in Gujarat, a solar array about 2,460 feet long has been mounted on an elevated steel structure over a branch irrigation canal, turning the waterway into both a power source and a shade cover. Developed by the Gujarat State Electricity Corporation with support from Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam, the pilot began operating in 2012 and produces roughly 1.6 million kilowatt-hours each year while keeping about 2.38 million gallons of water from evaporating.

The shade also curbs algae growth and offers a cooling benefit for the panels. State projections suggest that covering 10% of the canal network could yield around 2,200 MW of solar capacity, spare nearly 11,000 acres of farmland, and prevent roughly 200 billion litres of water loss annually, though these figures remain theoretical. Expanding the model is more expensive because the steel supports must endure weather, corrosion, and allow water flow, making ground-mounted farms cheaper where land is available. Nonetheless, Gujarat has added a larger 10-MW canal-top plant and researchers continue to study performance, highlighting how existing infrastructure can serve dual purposes in water-stressed regions.