**Summary of Research on Solarisation of Boats by NISE**
**Overview**
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has clarified that while there is currently no formal scheme to support the use of solar-powered boats for fishing, tourism, or passenger transport, research is actively being conducted. The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an autonomous body under the MNRE, is leading a feasibility study on the utilization of solar power in boats, specifically targeting the fishing sector.
**Collaboration and Implementation**
NISE is executing this pilot project and associated trial runs in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Energy and Environment (CSEE), a non-governmental organization.
**Key Milestones and Technical Progress**
Significant progress has been made in the development of a pilot solar boat for fishermen:
* **Design and Procurement:** Design work and the procurement of essential components—including PV modules, batteries, charge controllers, motors, and fibre boats—have been finalized.
* **Testing:** Components such as the motors, PV modules, and batteries have undergone testing at the NISE facility.
* **Fabrication:** The fabrication of the fibre boat was completed at Uppada Harbour.
* **Current Status:** The project is currently in the stages of system integration, field trials, and performance validation at the designated demonstration site.
**Administrative Details**
* **Reporting Authority:** Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
* **Date of Announcement:** March 17, 2026.
* **Release ID:** 2241171.
* **Location of Activity:** Uppada Harbour (Fabrication) and NISE (Testing).
Key Entities Referenced
National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE): An autonomous institute under MNRE conducting research, feasibility studies, and pilot trials for the solarisation of fishing and transport boats.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE): The central ministry overseeing renewable energy research and clarifying the current policy status regarding solar-powered boat schemes.
Centre for Sustainable Energy and Environment (CSEE): A non-governmental organization collaborating with NISE for the implementation of solar boat pilot projects and trial runs.
Uppada Harbour: The primary location identified for the fabrication of fibre boats utilized in the solar power research initiative.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
NISE Advances Research on Solarisation of
Boats Through Pilot and Field Trials
Posted On: 17 MAR 2026 3:28PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is not implementing any scheme to support use of
solar-powered boats for fishing, passenger transport and tourism. However, National Institute of Solar
Energy (NISE), an autonomous institute under the aegis of MNRE, is conducting a study on feasibility of
utilizing solar power in boats including the boats used for fishing.
NISE has collaborated with the Centre for Sustainable Energy and Environment (CSEE), a non-
governmental organization, for the implementation of the pilot project and trial runs.
Some of the key milestones achieved in this area include the development and deployment of a pilot solar
boat for fishermen. The design work and procurement of key components such as PV modules, batteries,
charge controllers, motors, and fibre boats have been completed. The motor, PV modules, and batteries
have been tested at the NISE and fibre boat fabrication has been completed at Uppada Harbour. System
integration, field trials and performance validation at the demonstration site are currently being carried
out.
This information was submitted by Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shri Shripad
Yesso Naik in a written reply to Rajya Sabha today.
***
Navin Sreejith
(Release ID: 2241171) Visitor Counter : 160
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