What is Floating Solar and How Does it Work?

Floating Solar Power Plants: A New Tide in Sustainable Energy

The world over, there is much discussion on sustainable energy sources. Finding new, efficient, and sustainable sources of energy is necessary because of issues like the depletion of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases, which have become more severe and novel. Solar energy has gained popularity as an alternative in recent years. International businesses offered and sought out solar energy offerings. The issue, though, hit a major roadblock because there isn’t enough space left to build these solar power facilities.

There was a realization of the need for a new and more environmentally friendly method of using solar energy to address the land problem. At that point, floating solar power plants began to be seen as a viable answer for the current situation.

What are Floating Solar Power Plants?

Solar panels that float above any body of water are referred to as floating solar power plants, floating photovoltaic, or floating voltaic. Strong buoyant structures are used by floating solar power plants to keep them afloat in a body of water. These are typically found in regions with still lakes or ponds with little water flow. They may also be seen in dams or reservoirs.

How do Floating Solar Power Plants function?

Finding water bodies that are normally still or do not move around much is essential to the successful installation of these power facilities. PV solar panels are used in floating solar plants, which are held above water with the aid of buoyant supports that keep them afloat and guard against water damage. To meet specifications, the panels must be robust and rust-free. Underwater cables are used to deliver the electric current to the power plants.

What are some advantages of Floating Solar Power Plants?

1. Concerns about the substantial land requirements are quelled. This requirement can be fulfilled by making the best use of water resources, which also creates new chances to construct solar farms without giving up significant amounts of priceless land.

2. Solar panels typically perform worse in higher temperatures. The floating solar panels cool down because of the presence of water bodies, which enables them to operate better for longer periods of time.

3. Floating solar panels are thought to be advantageous for the environment. They help to reduce water usage by limiting water body evaporation. Additionally, it is thought that they shield the water body from the growth of algae, which can be harmful.

What are some challenges of building Floating Solar Power Plants?

1. Building a floating solar power plant is an expensive endeavour because premium materials are required to construct both the buoys that support the panels and the panels themselves. they must be devoid of any materials that could harm the environment or the water system.

2. Floating solar panels are not appropriate for all uses due to their high cost. Only substantial businesses and institutions would be able to fund such an endeavour.

3. Extreme weather events like floods or winds can seriously harm these floating solar panels, thus great care must be taken to keep them safe.

Despite these obstacles, installing floating solar power plants has proven beneficial wherever it has been used. With the right strategy and execution, the difficulties could potentially be resolved. Therefore, floating solar panels would be the most viable option for future energy generation. We offer Floating Solar Power options at Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Limited that satisfy all requirements. We have built India’s first floating solar project and are working toward building one of the largest floating solar PV facilities in the world.

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on January 13, 2023.