Two Bengaluru lakes — Doddabommasandra and Rachenahalli — have been identified for the installation of floating photovoltaic (FPV) solar panels to generate clean energy. According to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, the project has received approval from the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA) and will be executed by Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL).
The FPV panels will cover around 10 per cent of the surface area of these lakes and are expected to produce nearly 20 megawatts of electricity. Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad had raised a question during the ongoing Assembly session about which city lakes were selected for FPV projects. In his reply, Shivakumar explained that the initiative is still in its early stages and currently does not have specific budgetary allocations from either the state government or the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Highlighting the benefits, Shivakumar noted that the electricity generated could be used for lake maintenance and to power surrounding streetlights. Additionally, the solar panels would help reduce water evaporation, thus conserving the lakes’ water levels.
Sources indicated that based on the performance of this pilot project, the government is considering replicating the model in other selected lakes across Karnataka to scale up renewable energy generation.
The initiative is being viewed as a step towards strengthening both urban sustainability and renewable energy goals in Bengaluru.