Tata Power has entered into a collaboration agreement with Norway-based renewable energy technology company Ocean Sun to deploy a 300 kWp floating solar pilot project at its Mulshi reservoir in Maharashtra. The partnership was formalized on the sidelines of the 2nd India–EFTA Prosperity Summit, marking a significant step in integrating advanced global clean energy technologies into India’s power infrastructure.

The primary objective of this pilot is to evaluate Ocean Sun’s proprietary membrane-based floating solar technology under Indian conditions. Unlike conventional systems that rely on interconnected pontoon structures, Ocean Sun’s solution mounts photovoltaic modules on a thin, hydro-elastic membrane that floats directly on the water surface. This lightweight design aims to simplify transportation and installation while reducing structural requirements. Additionally, the close proximity of the modules to the water surface may provide a cooling effect, potentially enhancing generation performance compared to traditional setups.

Strategic context and market potential

India possesses substantial capacity for floating solar deployment, with estimates from the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) indicating over 102 GWp of potential. This figure highlights a significant opportunity for floating solar to complement ground-mounted and rooftop installations as the country scales its renewable energy ecosystem. The Mulshi pilot serves as a critical testbed to build the technical and commercial evidence base required for wider adoption of such technologies.

The evaluation will assess 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. By comparing these metrics against conventional floating solar solutions, Tata Power aims to determine the cost competitiveness and scalability of the membrane-based approach.

Technology comparison

Leadership perspectives

Dr Praveer Sinha, CEO & Managing Director of Tata Power, emphasized that innovation is central to accelerating India’s clean energy transition. He stated that the collaboration reflects a commitment to bringing advanced global technologies to India and evaluating their potential in real-world conditions. The goal is to generate valuable operating insights to assess if the technology can deliver reliable, scalable, and cost-effective clean power solutions.

Kristian Tørvold, CEO of Ocean Sun, noted that while India is one of the world’s most attractive floating solar markets, it is also complex, requiring strong local execution capabilities. He expressed satisfaction with the partnership, citing Tata Power’s experience and market understanding as essential for navigating this complexity.

What the numbers show

The scale of the pilot (300 kWp) is modest relative to India’s estimated 102 GWp floating solar potential identified by NISE. This disparity underscores the current phase of technological validation rather than immediate large-scale deployment. The focus remains on gathering practical operating insights regarding performance and cost competitiveness before scaling up. The collaboration leverages Tata Power’s existing footprint, which includes approximately 17.7 GW of clean and green energy capacity, to test new technologies within an established operational framework.

Tata Power will participate in the PL Capital Mid & Small Cap Conference scheduled for Monday, September 28, 2026, in Mumbai. The company confirmed its attendance for individual and institutional investor meetings.

The engagement involves 1:1 physical and group meetings with analysts and institutional investors. Tata Power stated that the schedule may be revised due to unforeseen circumstances involving either the investors or the company. No unpublished price sensitive information will be conveyed during these interactions.

Regulatory compliance

The intimation was filed pursuant to Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. This regulation, read with Para A of Part A of Schedule III and Clause 19 of the Industry Standards Note, mandates prompt disclosure of investor meet schedules.

The company noted that this information is also available on its official website. The filing was signed by Vispi S. Patel, Company Secretary.