Bengaluru lakes to get floating solar panels in bid to boost green energy

Bengaluru's lakes could soon do more than just store water, they may start generating electricity too. The Karnataka government has set its sights on Doddabommasandra and Rachenahalli lakes as the first sites in the city to host floating solar panels, The New Indian Express reported.

The plan, approved by the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA), aims to produce up to 20 megawatts of green power. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar made the announcement in the Assembly while responding to a question from Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad.

The government intends to cover about 10% of the surface area of each lake with floating solar panels. Initially, the setup will generate 1 MW of electricity, with the capacity to be expanded to 20 MW over time.

But this isn’t just about producing power. Floating solar panels also have the added benefit of reducing water evaporation, which is crucial for a city like Bengaluru where many lakes are running dry. The electricity produced will be used for lake upkeep and to power streetlights in the surrounding neighbourhoods, according to Shivakumar, as cited by The New Indian Express.

For now, the project is still on the drawing board. Neither the state government nor the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has set aside funds yet, though Shivakumar assured that financial arrangements would be made going forward.

If the Bengaluru pilot proves successful, officials say similar floating solar projects could be extended to other lakes across Karnataka, The New Indian Express reported. The Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) has been tasked with overseeing the installations, though timelines for execution have not yet been shared.