Floating solar power isn’t just making waves; it’s redefining the future of clean energy. What was once considered experimental has quickly become one of the fastest-growing renewable solutions on the planet. By taking solar panels off the ground and placing them on water, these systems tackle two challenges at once: they generate massive amounts of electricity without using up valuable land, and they boost efficiency thanks to the natural cooling effect of the water below. Beyond that, floating solar represents a creative way to rethink how we use existing resources, turning underutilized reservoirs, lakes, and ponds into clean energy hubs.
In this blog, we’ll spotlight the world’s largest floating solar projects, ranging from South Korea and India to the United States, and explore the groundbreaking innovations powering them. These floating solar installations aren’t just impressive in scale; they’re examples of engineering ingenuity and international collaboration at its best. Whether you’re an energy professional, a sustainability advocate, or simply curious about the future of clean power, these record-breaking installations are worth knowing about.
Why Floating Solar Matters
Before diving into the largest projects, it’s worth asking: why are so many countries turning to floating solar in the first place? The answer lies in three overlapping challenges—land, water, and energy demand.
Traditional solar farms demand immense tracts of land, often putting them in direct competition with agriculture, housing, and natural ecosystems. In countries with high population densities and limited land resources, this competition is a major hurdle. Floating solar completely bypasses this issue by utilizing existing bodies of water that are otherwise underused. This approach transforms reservoirs and other water bodies from passive storage assets into active energy generators, making it a perfect solution for land-constrained nations.
One of the inherent challenges of solar technology is that panels lose efficiency as they heat up. The hotter the panels get, the less electricity they produce. Floating solar systems naturally mitigate this problem. The panels rest on water, which acts as a constant cooling medium, keeping their temperature lower and their performance higher. This effect is particularly significant in hot, sunny climates, where the water-cooling benefit can lead to a 10-15% increase in energy output compared to a land-based equivalent.
Beyond energy generation, floating solar offers a critical environmental benefit: water conservation. By covering the surface of a reservoir, the solar panels reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation. In regions grappling with drought or water shortages, this can be a game-changer, helping to preserve vital water resources for drinking, irrigation, and hydropower. This dual benefit—generating electricity while conserving water—makes floating solar an incredibly powerful tool for sustainable development.
Together, these advantages make floating solar one of the most promising and strategic renewable energy technologies of the current decade. Let’s now journey across the globe to explore the most significant floating solar projects that are leading this transformation.
Saemangeum Floating Solar Power Plant
Location: Saemangeum Seawall, South Korea
Capacity: 1,200 MW
When completed, the Saemangeum Floating Solar Power Plant will hold the title of the world’s largest floating solar power plant. Stretching across the reclaimed Saemangeum Seawall, this project is nothing short of monumental.
At 1.2 GW, the installation will produce enough clean electricity to power nearly a million homes. But the scale is only part of the story. This project represents South Korea’s determination to transition from fossil fuels toward renewables despite land limitations. By leveraging reclaimed seawater, the country is not only generating power but also proving how floating solar can unlock new possibilities in coastal environments.
Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project
Location: Madhya Pradesh, India
Capacity: 600 MW
India has set ambitious renewable energy goals, and the Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project is central to that vision. At full capacity, this 600 MW project will rank among the largest floating solar parks globally.
As of now, about 278 MW have been commissioned, with the remainder under development. Beyond numbers, this project illustrates India’s remarkable renewable growth story—expanding its clean energy portfolio more than 14 times in just 12 years. Built on the Narmada River reservoir, Omkareshwar shows how hydropower and solar can coexist in hybrid energy ecosystems.
Dezhou Dingzhuang Floating Solar Farm
Location: Shandong Province, China
Capacity: 320 MW
China continues to dominate the floating solar market, and the Dezhou Dingzhuang project is a prime example. Generating 550,000 MWh annually and offsetting 217,700 tons of CO₂ emissions, it’s as much an environmental initiative as it is an energy solution.
Strategically placed on a large reservoir, the project benefits from advanced anchoring systems that adapt to fluctuating water levels and extreme weather. In regions prone to scorching summers, the water cooling effect ensures panels maintain strong performance, highlighting one of floating solar’s greatest advantages over land-based farms.
Location: West Java, Indonesia
Capacity: 192 MW
The Cirata Floating Solar Plant is Southeast Asia’s largest and a groundbreaking example of international collaboration. Developed by Indonesia’s PLN Nusantara Power and UAE-based Masdar, this $100 million project spans a 200-hectare reservoir already home to hydropower facilities.
By generating 192 MW—enough to supply 50,000 households—Cirata demonstrates the growing global appetite for renewable partnerships that combine local infrastructure with international expertise. Its financing, secured from major global banks, also reflects investor confidence in floating solar as a stable, bankable technology.
Tengeh Reservoir Floating Solar Farm
Location: Singapore
Capacity: 60 MW
Land-scarce Singapore is a natural fit for floating solar. The Tengeh Reservoir project is unique because it doesn’t just feed power into the grid, it directly powers the nation’s water treatment facilities. By closing the loop between water and energy, Singapore has created a self-sustaining model where clean water and clean power support each other.
Though smaller in capacity compared to other Asian giants, Tengeh’s 60 MW floating solar farm is a model of efficiency and integration that many other urban nations could replicate.
Three Gorges Huainan Floating Solar PV Park
Location: Anhui, China
Capacity: 150 MW
Built by China Three Gorges, this 150 MW project spreads across nearly 800 acres of water. Each year it generates about 150,000 MWh, enough to power 94,000 households.
What’s remarkable is its symbolic setting: the farm sits on a former coal mining subsidence area. By turning land degraded by fossil fuels into a hub for clean energy, Huainan represents the circular story of renewable transition.
Kayamkulam Floating Solar Project
Location: Kerala, India
Capacity: 101.6 MW
Built on 350 acres of Kerala’s backwaters, Kayamkulam is India’s largest floating solar plant to date. Developed by Tata Power, it features advanced security measures like 24/7 CCTV monitoring and cutting-edge floating inverter platforms.
Commissioned in record time, the 101.6 MW project reinforces India’s capacity to deploy renewable energy at scale while adapting to diverse geographical conditions.
Ramagundam Floating Solar Project
Location: Telangana, India
Capacity: 100 MW
Constructed on NTPC’s thermal plant reservoir, Ramagundam shows how floating solar can repurpose fossil-fuel infrastructure for a cleaner future. Generating 177 million kWh annually, it offsets the emissions of the coal-fired plant besides turning an environmental liability into an opportunity for change.
Location: Rajasthan, India
Capacity: 2,245 MW (land-based, with floating expansions proposed)
Although Bhadla is primarily known as the world’s largest land-based solar park, its planned expansions include hybrid models with floating solar elements in nearby reservoirs. The Bhadla Solar Park Expansion demonstrates India’s push not only for scale but also for diversification.
At over 2.2 GW, Bhadla is often highlighted when discussing the largest floating solar power plant in world projects under development, since its reservoir-linked expansions are setting the stage for hybrid floating additions. This serves as a powerful reminder that the future of solar isn’t binary—land or water—but a combination of both.
Major U.S. Floating Solar Farms
Although Asia leads in capacity, the United States is building momentum with its own projects. American floating solar often focuses on municipal water treatment, industrial ponds, and utility-owned reservoirs.
Canoe Brook Reservoir Floating Solar Array
Location: Short Hills, New Jersey
Capacity: 8.9 MW
This project, one of the largest in the U.S., is a prime example of floating solar’s utility for water companies. Owned by New Jersey American Water, the array offsets the energy demands of the company’s operations, simultaneously reducing emissions and conserving water. This shows how floating solar can be a strategic asset for utilities looking to green their operations and cut costs.
Sayreville Floating Solar Project
Location: Sayreville, New Jersey
Capacity: 4.4 MW
Built on a decommissioned water treatment facility, Sayreville proves that underutilized water assets can be turned into renewable generators. It also powers the town’s water treatment plant, showing how floating solar supports critical municipal infrastructure.
Healdsburg Floating Solar Array
Location: Healdsburg, California
Capacity: 4.7 MW
California’s Healdsburg floating solar array offsets nearly half of the city’s wastewater treatment energy needs. Beyond emissions reductions, the project underscores how floating solar empowers local governments to lower costs and emissions in tandem.
TECO (Tampa Electric) Floating Solar Project
Location: Big Bend Power Station, Apollo Beach, Florida
Capacity: 1 MW
TECO’s floating solar project at the Big Bend Power Station marks a major milestone as Florida’s first of its kind. While relatively small compared to international installations, the array, designed and manufactured by AccuSolar, holds significant symbolic weight. Situated on a pond at a coal-fired power plant, it emphasizes a growing trend of solar innovation even in the Southeast, a region historically reliant on fossil fuels.
Why These Projects Matter
Scale — From gigawatt-class facilities in Asia to smaller U.S. municipal megawatt projects, floating solar is effective across a wide range of scales.
Innovation — Hybrid hydro-solar systems, advanced anchoring designs, and floating inverter platforms make these solar farms engineering marvels.
Sustainability — They conserve land, preserve water, and reduce emissions simultaneously.
Global Reach — Projects span nearly every continent, showing the universal appeal of water-based renewables.
The Future of Floating Solar
Floating solar is no longer a niche concept—it’s a gigawatt-scale reality, leading the next era of renewable energy. Record-breaking projects in South Korea, India, China, Indonesia, Singapore, and the United States are setting the pace for global development.
The highly anticipated Saemangeum Floating Solar Plant in South Korea is a landmark project, yet it’s only one piece of a worldwide puzzle. Developers are in a heated race to construct the largest floating solar arrays in world history, continually pushing the limits of clean energy capacity and engineering. Within the United States, the Pleasure Island Power Collective in Texas is slated to hold the title of the largest floating solar array at 391 megawatts, designed and manufactured by AccuSolar.
AccuSolar: Leading American Innovation in Floating Solar
While the global stage is showcasing the immense potential of floating solar, AccuSolar is driving this innovation right here in the United States. As a U.S.-based manufacturer, we specialize in designing and producing floating solar systems that deliver the perfect balance of efficiency, durability, and sustainability.
What truly sets AccuSolar apart is our dedication to domestic excellence. We commit to U.S. sourcing for all key components, including marine-grade aluminum frames, stainless steel hardware, and 100% virgin HDPE floats—all manufactured using high-quality, U.S. materials.
For nearly two decades, our team has leveraged deep expertise in floating structures to create solutions that not only withstand the harshest environments but also guarantee long-term performance. As the demand for floating solar accelerates worldwide, AccuSolar is proud to be a leader in providing reliable, American-made platforms for the clean energy projects of tomorrow.
Floating solar is no longer just an idea; it’s a proven, scalable technology actively transforming the global energy landscape. From gigawatt-scale behemoths in South Korea and India to crucial municipal projects across the United States, these installations demonstrate a clear path toward a more sustainable future. By effectively addressing challenges like land scarcity, energy efficiency, and water conservation, floating solar is ushering in a new era of clean, reliable, and innovative power.
At AccuSolar, we’re proud to contribute meaningfully to this essential global movement. Contact us to explore how floating solar can transform your next clean energy project.
