Floating solar | trailblazing hybrid projects Sun meets water: From the high-altitude plateaus of China to the floating reservoirs of India and Portugal, hybrid
solar-hydro projects are redefining renewable energy. These five pioneering installations combine solar power with hydropower to maximize efficiency, stabilize grids, and reduce environmental impact, showcasing innovation from the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau to the Swiss Alps
Kela project, China
The Kela Photovoltaic Power Station is situated in Kela Township, Yajiang County, within the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, China. The site lies at elevations ranging from 4,000 to 4,600m above sea level. Construction of the first phase began in July 2022 and the station entered commercial operation in June 2023. The project occupies approximately 1,667ha of plateau terrain, where climatic conditions are characterised by low oxygen levels, strong winds, heavy snowfall, and significant temperature fluctuations. These environmental factors necessitated special construction techniques, including cold-resistant materials and equipment designed to operate reliably in high-altitude conditions. The installed capacity of the photovoltaic station is 1GW, making it one of the largest single-site solar installations in the world. It is the largest hydro-PV station. The plant consists of millions of photovoltaic modules arranged across the plateau, supported by inverters and an extensive collection system. Power from the PV modules is aggregated at 220 kV substations before being stepped up to 500 kV for transmission. The site includes a dedicated 500 kV collector station, which integrates the photovoltaic output with the nearby Lianghekou Hydropower Station. This configuration enables efficient dispatch of generated power into the Sichuan grid,
supporting both local demand and long- distance transmission. Annual power generation from the Kela
photovoltaic station is expected to reach approximately 2 billion kilowatt-hours, corresponding to about 1,735 equivalent full-load hours. Output is subject to diurnal and seasonal variability, with peak generation during the summer months when solar irradiation is highest. The high solar resource availability at the site, combined with the complementary regulation provided by the hydropower reservoir, supports stable annual energy production. The integration with Lianghekou Hydropower Station, which has a capacity of around 3 GW and a reservoir storage of 10.8 billion cubic meters, enables real-time compensation for fluctuations in photovoltaic output. The construction of the station required
extensive logistical coordination due to its remote location and high altitude. Engineering solutions included reinforced support structures to withstand wind and snow loads, as well as optimized panel orientation for maximum solar capture under the plateau’s irradiation conditions.
Omkareshwar Floating Solar Park, India
The Omkareshwar Floating Solar Park is located on the reservoir of the Omkareshwar Dam on the Narmada River in Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is planned as a 600MW floating
Kela project, China
Omkareshwar Floating Solar Park, India
solar complex, one of the largest of its kind globally, and is being developed in phases by a consortium of entities including SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL), NHDC, Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL), AMP Energy, and Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL). The first phase totals 278MW spread across multiple developers.
Within this phase, SGEL commissioned a 90MW floating solar project on 8 August 2024. It is expected to generate 196.5 million units (MUs) in its first year and around 4,629 MUs over a 25-year operating period. Another segment, the 88MW Unit-D project by NHDC, was commissioned on 29 October 2024 with an annual expected generation of 204.6 MUs. Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited added a 126MW floating solar project in late 2024, spanning about 260ha of reservoir area and using 213,460 bifacial glass-to-glass modules. This unit is expected to generate around 204,580MWh annually, offsetting 173,893 tonnes of CO2
while also reducing reservoir
water evaporation by an estimated 32.5 million cubic meters per year. The projects employ several innovative engineering solutions to adapt to the unique challenges of the reservoir environment. For the 126MW installation, bifacial modules have been selected to take advantage of both direct sunlight and reflected light from the water surface, with cooling effects improving operating efficiency. Structural stability is achieved through mooring systems, wave breakers, and ballast anchors, designed to
38 | October 2025 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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