Tata Power partners with Norway’s Ocean Sun for innovative floating solar technology
- October 8, 2026
Tata Power has partnered with Norway-based renewable energy technology company Ocean Sun to bring its innovative membrane-based floating solar technology to India.
The collaboration agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 2nd India–EFTA Prosperity Summit, reinforcing the growing India–Norway and India–EFTA partnership in technology, innovation and clean energy, Tata Power said in a release.
The collaboration will see Tata Power and Ocean Sun undertake a 300-kWp floating solar pilot at Tata Power’s Mulshi reservoir in Maharashtra. The pilot will evaluate Ocean Sun’s proprietary membrane-based floating solar technology for performance, reliability, cost competitiveness and scalability under Indian conditions, while generating practical operating insights for potential future deployment.
The 300-kWp pilot will enable Tata Power to evaluate Ocean Sun’s technology against conventional floating solar solutions across key parameters, including energy generation, capacity utilisation factor (CUF), installation methodology and time, reliability, operations and maintenance (O&M) requirements, capital cost and overall commercial viability.
Floating solar potential
India has significant potential for floating solar deployment. According to estimates by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), the country has more than 102 GWp of floating solar potential, providing a substantial opportunity for the technology to complement ground-mounted and rooftop solar as India scales its renewable energy ecosystem. Against this backdrop, technology pilots such as the Mulshi project can help build the technical and commercial evidence base required for wider deployment.
Lower structural requirements
Unlike conventional floating solar systems that typically use interconnected pontoon structures, Ocean Sun’s technology deploys solar PV modules on a thin, hydro-elastic membrane that floats directly on the water surface. The lightweight design has the potential to simplify transportation and installation while reducing structural requirements. The close proximity of the PV modules to the water surface may also provide a cooling effect, which could contribute to improved generation performance.
Advanced global technologies
Commenting on the initiative, Dr Praveer Sinha, CEO&MD Tata Power, said: “At Tata Power, innovation is central to accelerating India’s clean energy transition. Our collaboration with Ocean Sun reflects our commitment to bringing advanced global technologies to India and evaluating their potential in real-world conditions. Through this floating solar pilot, we aim to generate valuable operating insights and assess its potential to deliver reliable, scalable and cost-effective clean power solutions.”
Most attractive market
“India is one of the world’s most attractive floating solar markets, but it is also a large and complex market where local execution capabilities are essential. Tata Power brings the experience, capabilities and market understanding required to navigate that complexity. We are therefore particularly pleased to establish this collaboration and to work together on the floating solar project,” said Kristian Tørvold, CEO, Ocean Sun
Important juncture for floating solar
The collaboration comes at an important juncture for India’s floating solar sector, which is expected to assume a growing role in the country’s renewable energy transition. By enabling solar generation from suitable water bodies, floating solar can help reduce dependence on land while offering opportunities for co-benefits such as reduced water evaporation and potentially enhanced PV performance, the release added.
Editor’s Note:
Back in November 2023, tndindia.com interacted with the then CEO of Ocean Sun AS, to understand more about the company’s innovative floating solar technology. This was when Ocean Sun AS was entering India for the very first time through an MoU signed with Central PSU SJVN Ltd for a demonstration project. While the outcome of the MoU is not known, the interview might still be relevant in appreciating the Ocean Sun’s patented membrane-based floating solar technology. (Read interview)