Floating Solar and Our Sustainable Future
As energy costs rise and the threat of climate change looms ever larger, the interest in alternative energy has increased. Solar power, known in the science community as photovoltaics, is a viable clean alternative to fossil fuels that is growing in popularity worldwide. And with floating solar come more possibilities. and challenges.
Biohaven floating solar will scale up to handle the biggest issues.
Environmental Benefits of BioHaven FPV Platform
Floating solar is so new, water quality impacts are only starting to be understood. Today’s platforms or pontoons provide the benefits of shading and cooling but they can also lead to sunlight blocking and depleted oxygen. First, we must be sure we do no harm.
- Reduction of nutrient loading, especially TSS, TP, TN and ammonia.
- Treatment and prevention of HABs and methane emissions.
- Wave dampening to protect the solar panels and electronic componentry.
- Promotion of biodiversity in the water body and in and around the BioHaven.
- Embedded circulation and aeration technology.
- Water quality finally made affordable by energy production to offset costs.
- Chemical-free, safe, sustainable solution that empowers natural processes.
Clean Water projects have to be affordable
Another way of looking at it is that, with the application of large-scale BioHaven pontoons in impaired lakes, water quality can be affordable and implementable on the scale necessary to reverse the problems that are rising in impact and urgency. BioHavens help the solar industry to protect the water resource and the power generation helps water stewards clean up their water infrastructure.
Most people are familiar with land-based solar panels. We see them on our neighbor’s homes, on roofs over parking lots, or spread over acres of open land. Less is known about water-based solar power options. Also called floating photovoltaics or FPV, floating solar power is a rapidly emerging technology within the industry.Popularity of FPV is growing, particularly in urban settings where there is a shortage of land to sustain a large enough solar field to support the power needs of large populations, and rural areas where land-use regulations prevent the installation of land-based solar (Elliot).
Floatovoltaics: Floating Solar Panels
Floating solar will soon be using the BioHaven platform for affordable water treatment on a large scale
A BioHaven floating solar perimeter adds aesthetic value, wildlife habitat and protection from wind and waves
Imagine replacing the floating solar floats with BioHaven modules to bring nutrient treatment to impaired lakes
- Reduction of nutrient loading, especially TSS, TP, TN and ammonia.
- Treatment and prevention of HABs and methane emissions.
- Wave dampening to protect the solar panels and electronic componentry.
- Promotion of biodiversity in the water in and around the BioHaven.
- Embedded circulation and aeration.
- Water quality finally made affordable by energy production to offset costs.
- Chemical-free, safe, sustainable solution that empowers natural processes.
Solar power is an excellent source of clean, renewable energy.
As nations worldwide strive to combat climate change, there has been a rush of research and technological advancements at all levels of the solar industry, from the structure of panels and energy output, to the platforms that support the panels and where those platforms can be placed.
Challenges to the integration of solar power
Few challenges to widespread use of solar technology remain. The technology already exists to begin the transition from fossil fuels to clean solar energy. Perhaps the biggest challenge is integrating renewable power technologies into the existing energy distribution system (Larson).
Shifting from a fossil fuel-based energy system to a system built around renewables will require a coordinated effort between energy producers, consumers, state and federal legislatures, and the scientific community (Kariuki).
A few technical challenges to the use of solar power are dust and debris collection on the panels, which blocks the sun and limits energy output, and damage from waves, weather, and human and/or wildlife interference, and perhaps most significantly, the lack of geography.
Solar power requires a lot of space. Particularly in urban areas, there is limited room for large-scale solar arrays. Some of this challenge may be alleviated by further technological advances that make solar panels more efficient. But even with highly efficient solar arrays, the space required to produce enough power to service major metropolitan areas is still vast.
What Is Floating Solar and How Does Its Work?
Solar panels that are mounted on floating structures are referred to as floating solar or floating photovoltaics (FPV). Floating solar systems are commonly used in reservoirs, lakes, and other large bodies of man-made water. The primary benefit of FPV is that it makes use of unused space on the water’s surface and does not consume valuable land resources.
The solar panels are firmly attached to buoyant structures to keep them afloat on water bodies and receive adequate sunlight all year. The generated solar electricity is routed to a central inverter before reaching electrical equipment onshore via underwater cables. The power from the inverter is sent to the transformer for stepping down before being fed to the transmission system for delivery to the end user.
The deployment of FPVs in solar bodies of water is a win-win scenario. As the panels prevent excessive heat from entering the water bodies, they cool themselves, increasing energy productivity.
Components of Floating Solar System
PV modules: The actual solar panels capture and transmit solar energy, which is then converted into usable power.
Floaters: These are interconnected plastic rafts on which the solar panels are mounted.
Mooring system – Anchors: These provide support from the water’s floor to solar panels floating on the water’s surface. Vertical load, drag embedded, and suction anchors are the most common types.
Mooring system. Mooring line: This is the line that connects the floaters on the solar panels to the anchor below. The mooring line’s strength is determined by the weight of the solar panels that must be supported.
Combine box: The output of all the solar panels on the array is collected in the combined box and fed to the central inverter.
Central inverter: The central inverter is a large component of the FPV that converts DC to AC for transmission.
Transformer: The transformer reduces the power to allow for easier transmission.
Cabling: Cabling is the wiring that connects the solar panels, combine box, central inverter, and transformer.
Transmission system: The transmission system is the inland connection line that transports power to where it is needed.
Floating walkways: The inland access point for the solar panels. When the solar panels need to be serviced, this is critical.
Features of Floating Solar
The solar module, anti-rust material, vertical and horizontal frames, buoyancy body, inspection footrest, and module mount assembly are the main components of a floating solar power plant. The solar module must be highly humidity resistant, dustproof, lead-free, and well-water-protected. The buoyancy is made of polyethylene, which can hold 2.5 times its weight. The floating structure is made of a magnesium alloy coating that is highly corrosion-resistant.
Advantages of Floating Solar
There is no loss of valuable land space: Unlike ground-mounted solar panels, floating systems do not consume valuable land space. The large-scale installation of solar panels thus avoids cutting down trees.
Environmental advantages: They reduce water evaporation and algae blooms on water bodies’ surfaces. They produce clean, renewable energy while reducing reliance on nonrenewable fossil fuels.
Higher solar panel performance: Because the bodies of water that host floating solar arrays help cool the solar equipment, the panels produce electricity at a higher efficiency in hot climates than they would otherwise.
Disadvantages of Floating Solar
Expensive to Install: Installing them is more expensive than traditional PV systems because they require specialized equipment and knowledge.
Limited applicability: This technology is not suitable for everyone. Many floating solar installations are large-scale, supplying power to large communities, businesses, or utility companies. If you want solar, rooftop installation or ground-mounted solar is the better option.
Disruption to aquatic life: The installation prevents sunlight from penetrating the water’s surface, limiting the wildlife that lives there. Because the physical structure may injure animals, it is recommended that the panels be installed on man-made lakes and reservoirs with limited wildlife.
Floating solar is going places
The number of floatovoltaics projects is growing globally.
For example, South Korea is developing a floating solar power plant expected to be the world’s biggest. The project on the Saemangeum tidal flats on South Korea’s west coast will generate 2.1 gigawatts of electricity — enough to power 1 million homes, according to energy industry news site, Power Technology.
Portugal is home to Europe’s biggest floating solar park. It floats on the Alqueva reservoir, Europe’s largest artificial lake, and supplies about a third of the power needed by nearby towns. The floating solar farm has 12,000 solar panels and is the size of four football pitches.
India and Singapore go big on floating solar
In India, a 600 megawatt floating solar energy plant is being built at the Omkareshwar Dam on the Narmada river in the state of Madhya Pradesh. A 1 gigawatt floating solar power project is reportedly planned at the Indira Sagar dam in Madhya Pradesh. The central Indian state already generates 5,500 megawatts of energy from renewable sources and wants to add 20,000 megawatts to this by 2030, according to Asian solar energy news site SolarQuarter.
Floating Solar | Floating Solar Construction | Working | Components of Floating Solar
Singapore’s huge floating solar farm on the Tengeh Reservoir is the size of 45 football fields and has 122,000 floating solar panels. It powers Singapore’s five water treatment plants and is part of the island’s goal to quadruple solar energy production by 2025.
Floating solar projects in the US and Germany
In the United States, the biggest floating solar project is in California. The Healdsburg Floating Solar Farm has 11,600 solar panels and can generate 4.8 megawatts of electricity, according to power supplier Sonoma Clean Power. This is enough to meet 8 percent of the electricity needs of Healdsburg.
Germany’s biggest floating solar plant is built on an unused lake in a quarry in the town of Haltern am Sea and will save up to 1,100 tons a year of CO2 emissions. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany and other countries in Europe are increasing their FOCUS on renewable energy to help reduce their reliance on Russian oil and gas.
Current Roadblocks For Offshore And Floating Solar
Although there are many benefits to floating solar farms, there are some disadvantages to overcome. Typically, there are more challenges with floating solar installations located in salt water because salt water it can leave a film on the modules, decreasing solar energy output. This can also be an issue for land-based projects near the ocean that receive salt spray.
Because floating solar farms are less common, they require special equipment that keeps the modules above the surface of the water. This is more sophisticated and complex than standard roof or ground-mounted racking systems. Also, because this is a niche market, these materials can be more expensive, driving up costs.
These solar projects are also more complex from an engineering standpoint due to potential wind speeds, corrosion, anchoring complications, and water movement. Site selection can be difficult and time-consuming, increasing permitting issues and development and construction costs.
Also, constructing floating solar power plants can damage the environment and disrupt aquatic life, especially in pristine areas. Once installed, the modules shading the water’s surface reduce available sunlight, altering ecosystems. For example, research has shown that floating solar farms can impact the stratification in a water body. Changes in water stratification can cause the lower layers to become deoxygenated, increasing nutrient concentrations and killing fish. research is needed to learn about the ecological implications of floating solar.
What Offshore Solar Projects Exist Today?
Numerous countries are constructing utility-scale floating solar farms, including China, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. Although some are operational, many are in various stages of development.
The largest operational floating project is Dingzhuang solar farm in eastern China. This 320-megawatt project is mounted on a reservoir, is connected to a 100-megawatt wind farm, and has 8-megawatt hours of battery storage.
By contrast, the largest floating solar farm online in the United States, the Healdsburg project in California, is much smaller. This 4.8-megawatt project is located on 15 acres of ponds at a wastewater treatment plant.
The largest planned FPV project is the Saemangeum floating solar farm in South Korea. This 2.1-gigawatt project aims to be operational in 2030 and can help the country significantly reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. It will be located in tidal flats on the Yellow Sea coast, co-located with an onshore solar farm.
In India, a 600-megawatt FPV plant is under construction near the Omkareshwar Dam on the Narmada River. The largest floating solar park in Europe under construction is in Portugal at the Alqueva Reservoir. This 5-megawatt project will accompany a hydroelectric dam and produce electricity that is more cost-effective than power from natural gas power plants.
Taiwan has become a leader in ocean-based offshore solar farms because space on land is at a premium on the island, yet there is plenty of space at sea. In recent years Chenya Energy completed a 180 MW project off the west coast of Taiwan and is planning more offshore solar projects.
SolarDuck. a Dutch-Norwegian floating solar developer, will develop a 500-kilowatt offshore pilot project in the North Sea consisting of six interconnected platforms on synthetic anchors at an offshore wind farm.
How Much Might Floating Solar Cost?
The cost of floating solar farms varies depending on numerous factors, including the cost of anchoring systems, transmission infrastructure, real estate leases, labor, and system capacity. For example, the Saemangeum project is estimated to cost 3.82 billion, and the smaller solar farm on the Narmada River has a price tag of 4.1 million.
Some more experimental projects, such as the Dutch project in the North Sea, are still in the pilot phase. Thus, the cost per MW is much higher because they are smaller in scale and require more research.
Floating Solar Panels: Solar Installations Of The Future?
Although floatovoltaic projects are promising in certain areas, they are not ideal for all locations. This application is most appealing in areas where land is scarce and existing transmission infrastructure is in place. Often, the most attractive sites are reservoirs at hydroelectric dams, but some solar developers are examining ocean-based applications at offshore wind farms and tidal flats.
Although many floating projects have been completed, more research is needed to advance this approach. For example, research is needed to understand the ecological impacts of floating solar farms or the best way to anchor them.
Are you working on a challenging solar project? Partner with GreenLancer for your next photovoltaic installation!