Canal-Top Photovoltaics for Land-Neutral Solar Energy

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Key takeaways

A 2024 study by CSTEP estimated India's total technical potential for Canal-Top Photovoltaics (CTPV) and canal-bank solar projects at 131 GW.
India pioneered CTPV technology with its first 1 MW plant in Mehsana, Gujarat, in 2012, saving 9 million liters of water annually on the Narmada Canal.
Under the PM Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY), India targets 5,000 MW of floating solar power by FY 2030-31 with a financial outlay of Rs 5,070 crore.

High land costs and complex acquisition delays for ground solar projects have renewed interest in Canal-Top Photovoltaics (CTPV) as a land-neutral energy solution.
This technology supports government efforts for land-saving solar power, complementing schemes like PM Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY), PM-KUSUM, and the National Solar Mission.

Canal-Top Photovoltaics (CTPV) is a renewable energy technology where solar panels are mounted on elevated steel frames directly over irrigation or water canals.
Unlike floating solar power plants that rest on floating pontoons over reservoir surfaces, CTPV uses fixed elevated structures spanning across canal banks.
Engineers design these structural frameworks according to canal width and orientation to ensure that flowing water beneath remains completely clear for farming and municipal supply.

Installing solar panels over existing water channels completely avoids expensive and legally complex land acquisition. For example, a 20 MW CTPV project in Punjab saved approximately 100 acres of land.
Shading canals with solar panels cuts water evaporation significantly, protecting vital water supplies in drought-prone areas. A 1 MW system on the Narmada Canal in Gujarat saves nearly 9 million liters of water every year.
Water flowing beneath the panels provides a cooling effect that maintains panel efficiency during intense summer heat while creating multi-functional energy and water infrastructure.
Blocking direct sunlight reduces weed and algae growth inside canal channels, which lowers routine cleaning and maintenance costs for water authorities.

India pioneered this technology by commissioning its first 1 MW CTPV installation in Mehsana, Gujarat, in 2012.
Gujarat later added a 20 MW CTPV project in Vadodara, while Punjab set up another 20 MW installation between 2014 and 2018.
A 2024 study co-authored by CSTEP estimated India's total technical potential for CTPV and canal-bank solar systems at 131 GW.
The top five states with the highest potential based on sunlight, canal structures, and grid access are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab.
In September 2025, Punjab invited bids for 40 MW of CTPV installations across its 10,000 km canal network, while Haryana began evaluating CTPV over six main canals.

Constructing tall elevated frames capable of spanning wide canals and resisting heavy wind loads makes CTPV costlier than standard ground-mounted solar power plants.
Cleaning solar panels, carrying out repairs, and clearing silt or mud from underlying canal beds become far more complicated under covered structures.
Because irrigation canals stretch out in long narrow lines, connecting CTPV projects to distant electrical substations increases power evacuation expenses.

The Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) is a Central Sector Scheme designed to build Floating Solar Photovoltaic (FSPV) projects on reservoirs alongside Energy Storage Systems (ESS).
The program aims to achieve 5,000 MW of floating solar capacity by FY 2030-31 supported by an official budget allocation of Rs 5,070 crore.
To manage solar power fluctuations and stabilize grid supply, all projects must integrate Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) with at least two hours of backup capacity, providing 10,000 MWh in total.
Developers receive Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of Rs 1 crore per MW upon project setup, plus up to Rs 50 lakh per project to cover feasibility, bathymetry, and environmental studies.
This scheme saves scarce agricultural land, cuts reservoir water evaporation, lowers annual carbon emissions by 10 million tonnes, and creates about 16,000 to 17,000 green jobs.