The global floating solar photovoltaic (FPV) market is entering 2027 with growing investments in reservoir-based solar installations, offshore platforms, floating tracking systems and solar-plus-battery storage projects. Ciel & Terre, Sungrow FPV, FOST, Zimmermann PV-Floating, Ocean Sun, Isigenere, SolarisFloat, SolarDuck, Swimsol and Noria Energy are among the technology providers competing for utilities, renewable energy developers, industrial customers and government-backed projects.
A 2026 review published in Nature Reviews Clean Technology estimated that global floating solar installations exceeded 9.6 GWp by 2024, with median reported capital expenditure of approximately $1.25 per watt-peak.
Floating solar technology providers are competing through lower installation costs, stronger anchoring systems, higher electricity generation, modular platforms and reduced maintenance requirements. Their customer-winning strategies focus on engineering performance, project references and lifecycle economics.
Top 10 Floating Solar Companies: Projects, Technology and Customer Strategies
1. Ciel & Terre: 119.7 MWp Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project
France-based Ciel & Terre is a prominent floating solar technology specialist offering Hydrelio modular floating platforms.
At India’s Omkareshwar reservoir, the company reports a 119.7 MWp project scope, including engineering, floating-system supply, assembly and anchoring.
The installation required specialized rock-bolt anchoring designed for rocky reservoir conditions and water depths of approximately 25–30 metres.
Ciel & Terre’s customer acquisition strategy emphasizes established project references, modular equipment, engineering support and customized anchoring solutions.
Its Omkareshwar floating solar project demonstrates how engineering capabilities can help secure contracts involving difficult reservoir conditions.
2. Sungrow FPV: 192 MW Cirata Project in Indonesia
Sungrow FPV combines floating solar structures, power conversion technology and large-project engineering.
Its participation in Indonesia’s 192 MW Cirata floating solar project provides a reference for large-scale reservoir installations.
The project required engineering solutions for water depths approaching 100 metres, including mooring simulations and high-load-bearing floating structures.
Sungrow’s customer-winning strategy combines floating platforms with its wider solar inverter and power electronics capabilities.
Utilities and developers can evaluate Sungrow for projects requiring integrated technical coordination, customized anchoring and large-scale equipment supply.
3. FOST: 1.8 GW Grid-Connected Floating Solar Portfolio
Floating of Solar Technology (FOST) reports more than 1.8 GW of grid-connected floating solar projects, with another 650 MW under construction.
These company-reported figures indicate substantial project involvement, although they should not be interpreted as independently audited operating assets owned by FOST.
FOST competes through large-scale floating platform supply and project implementation experience.
Its customer strategy emphasizes proven project execution, engineering customization and the ability to supply floating structures for utility-scale installations.
Developers should verify commissioning dates, supplied equipment, operating performance and warranty responsibilities for individual projects.
4. Zimmermann PV-Floating: 97 MWp Across 10 Projects
Germany-based Zimmermann PV-Floating supplies the ZIM Float modular floating solar system.
The company reports 97 MWp across ten realized projects, using an integrated design featuring module boats, inverter boats and maintenance walkways.
Zimmermann’s competitive advantage is its approach to floating system integration, including electrical equipment access and maintenance infrastructure.
Its customer acquisition strategy focuses on engineering quality, modular construction and lifecycle serviceability.
Developers should assess replacement procedures, floating structure durability and long-term electrical maintenance costs.
5. Ocean Sun: 6.2 MWp Installed and Tata Power Pilot
Norway-based Ocean Sun has developed a hydro-elastic membrane technology that differs from conventional rigid floating pontoons.
Its 2025 annual report recorded 6.2 MWp installed across 15 projects in seven countries, alongside a separate 2.9 MWp backlog.
The company has deployed technology in freshwater and saltwater environments and reports Bureau Veritas type certification.
In October 2026, Tata Power announced an approximately 300 kWp pilot at Mulshi reservoir in India to evaluate Ocean Sun’s technology.
Ocean Sun’s customer strategy targets developers seeking alternative floating structures with potentially different material, installation and engineering requirements.
Its annual report provides project and technology information. The Indian pilot is a technology evaluation, not a utility-scale commercial reference.
6. Isigenere: Floating Solar for Reservoirs with Water-Level Changes
Spain-based Isigenere develops ISIFLOATING modular floating solar platforms.
Its 446 kWp Sierra Brava project in Spain uses an elastic Seaflex mooring system designed to accommodate reservoir water-level fluctuations.
Isigenere’s customer-winning strategy focuses on adaptability to reservoir conditions, modular equipment and anchoring flexibility.
Its technology is relevant to hydropower reservoirs and water bodies where seasonal changes create structural and mooring challenges.
Customers should evaluate float durability, UV exposure, connection fatigue and anchoring performance.
7. SolarisFloat: Solar Tracking Technology for Higher Generation
Portugal-based SolarisFloat developed Protevs, a floating solar system capable of rotating to follow sunlight.
Its 50.7 kWp single-axis tracking pilot was installed in the Netherlands.
Unlike fixed floating platforms, Protevs seeks to improve solar generation through directional tracking.
SolarisFloat’s customer strategy emphasizes potential electricity yield improvements from floating tracking technology.
However, project economics depend on whether additional generation compensates for tracking equipment, energy consumption, maintenance and mechanical complexity.
8. SolarDuck: 500 kWp Offshore Floating Solar Demonstration
Netherlands-based SolarDuck develops elevated floating solar platforms for offshore applications.
Its 0.5 MWp Merganser project, installed with RWE in the Dutch North Sea in 2024, is located approximately 12 kilometres offshore in water around 20 metres deep.
The demonstration includes six interconnected platforms and more than 180 sensors monitoring structural, electrical, environmental and mooring performance.
SolarDuck’s customer strategy targets offshore wind developers, energy companies and marine infrastructure operators seeking to combine solar generation with offshore energy assets.
Its elevated platform design aims to protect equipment from waves, but utility-scale commercial economics remain to be demonstrated.
9. Swimsol: 2.421 MWp Floating Solar in the Maldives
Austria-based Swimsol specializes in floating solar systems for islands and coastal applications.
Its 2.421 MWp floating solar installation at Cheval Blanc Randheli in the Maldives was launched in 2025.
The project also includes 320 kWp of rooftop solar and 1,953 kWh of battery storage, bringing combined solar capacity to 2.741 MWp.
Swimsol’s customer-winning strategy focuses on island resorts and businesses seeking to reduce diesel consumption and electricity costs where land is limited.
Its SolarSea technology targets customers for whom marine installation can provide an alternative to expensive conventional generation.
10. Noria Energy: Floating Solar Tracking with Claimed 20% Yield Gain
US-based Noria Energy introduced its Airon floating single-axis tracking technology in 2026.
The company previously tested a 50 kW system at Fairmount Reservoir in Colorado.
Noria claims its tracking technology can increase solar electricity generation by up to 20 percent compared with fixed configurations.
A commercial pilot was planned for late 2026, with equipment shipments scheduled from mid-2027.
Noria’s customer acquisition strategy focuses on additional electricity generation and improved project economics without proportionately increasing installed solar capacity.
The claimed generation improvement requires independent validation under commercial operating conditions.
Floating Solar Costs and Investment Returns
A 2026 industry review estimated median floating solar capital expenditure at $1.25/Wp, although actual costs depend on water depth, anchoring, grid connectivity and installation conditions.
For an illustrative 100 MWp floating solar project in India, assuming ₹6 crore/MWp investment:
| Financial indicator | Estimate |
| Total investment | ₹600 crore |
| Annual generation at 20% capacity factor | 175.2 GWh |
| Electricity tariff | ₹3.50/kWh |
| Annual revenue | ₹61.32 crore |
| Annual O&M at 1.5% of CAPEX | ₹9 crore |
| Simple payback | 11.5 years |
These assumptions exclude financing, taxes, degradation and major equipment replacement.
India Floating Solar Market: ₹5,070 Crore Government Scheme
India’s Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana provides a ₹5,070 crore outlay to support 5,000 MW of floating solar projects paired with at least two hours of battery storage.
The programme implies at least 10,000 MWh of battery storage. India’s estimated floating solar potential across suitable inland water bodies is 102.18 GWp.
Eligible projects may receive ₹1 crore/MW following commissioning, subject to scheme conditions.
Floating Solar Technology Outlook for 2027
Ciel & Terre, Sungrow and FOST compete through large-scale reservoir deployment, while Ocean Sun, SolarisFloat and Noria Energy focus on alternative platform designs and generation improvements.
SolarDuck and Swimsol target marine applications, while Zimmermann and Isigenere emphasize modular engineering and reservoir adaptability.
Winning contracts in 2027 will depend on verified project performance, competitive lifecycle costs, reliable anchoring, local maintenance capabilities and the ability to integrate floating solar with energy storage.
SHAFANA FAZAL
