Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is taking major steps to generate solar energy by utilising the water surfaces of its reservoirs. In the initial phase, the state has identified six reservoirs for potential floating solar projects, with plans to select two of them for the final setup.

The six shortlisted reservoirs are Harabhangi in Gajapati, Sorada in Ganjam, Ramial in Dhenkanal, Derjang in Angul, Jharabandha in Bargarh and Gohira in Deogarh.

According to the office of the Chief Engineer of the Water Resources Department, the inspection visits are scheduled to take place between July 17 and July 22.

During these visits, the team will coordinate with local stakeholders to study infrastructure and logistics, visit nearby Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) substations to gather data on power transmission possibilities, and prepare and submit a comprehensive report on the selected dams, which will be discussed at the upcoming State Reservoir Committee meeting.

To ensure a thorough evaluation, the Water Resources Department has requested representatives from several departments to join the inspection team. These include the departments of Energy, Industries, Fisheries, Tourism, and Forest, Environment and Climate Change, alongside GRIDCO and OPTCL.

Floating solar technology offers a smart solution to clean energy needs by placing solar panels on top of unused water bodies. It eliminates the need for vast tracts of land, which is often a major hurdle for large-scale solar projects. It makes productive use of idle water surfaces while generating clean and renewable energy.

The initiative gained momentum following a workshop on June 10, organised in collaboration with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). The workshop focused on the technical and commercial feasibility of floating solar power in the state. Following these discussions, the State Reservoir Committee shortlisted these six sites based on specific technical criteria.