Emerging Renewable Technologies – Floating Solar Panels

With renewable technology growing, we are always looking for ways to expand our current solar technologies. With the issue of spacing affecting solar farms, countries around the world have adapted and began moving these farms to the ocean, creating floating solar panels. In this article, we will look at what floating solar panels are and how they will impact the renewable energy sector.

What are floating solar panels?

Also known as Floating Photovoltaic Panels (FPV), these solar panels have been mounted and designed specifically to be placed and rested on calm bodies of water, and like solar panels, they will absorb solar energy from the sun to generate electricity for the grid.

Why are floating solar panels used?

For large-scale solar generation, it takes up a lot of space and, in comparison to fossil fuels, it requires much more land. Businesses are having to come up with a solution to the space needed for FPVs, and that solution was to move them onto large bodies of water like lakes. One of the main issues that solar panels currently face is that they can get extremely warm. FPV mitigates this heat as the water cools the panels, which helps to keep their efficiency higher as it mitigates the impact of a rate known as the temperature coefficient, where the hotter something gets, the less efficient it becomes.

Advantages

Increased efficiency: Solar panels, to be at their most effective, need to balance between being cool and catching as much sun as possible. FPV helps to remove the issue with heat, as the water from the lake will help to cool down the panels. 

Water quality: In lakes or ponds, fresh water has a high chance of growing an excessive amount of algae, which can damage the aquatic life in the water. FPVs serve as a deterrent because the solar panels will help to keep the water cool, which reduces the opportunity for algae to grow.

Does not use scarce land: Large solar farms are currently struggling to find large enough land that can accommodate large-scale solar farms. By implementing FPVs, businesses are able to deal with this issue. It is important to note that although we cannot put solar panels on every open source of water, it is an opportunity to help deal with the issue countries are currently facing with a lack of open space for solar panels on land.

Can be installed at existing power plants: Most hydropower plants are built with a dam to store any excess water, which creates an artificial lake. This gives companies an opportunity to use FPV on the lake, combining two clean energy sources together. It also means that the panels can take advantage of equipment that is already there, such as exiting cables, helping you save money.

Disadvantages

Maintenance cost: With the constant flow of water and how new the technology is, we are expected to see an increase in maintenance cost due to the lack of current training for the technology. Once people begin to receive the necessary training, then we can expect maintenance costs to decrease over time.

Adverse effects from water: Although solar panels are built to be water-resistant, such as rain, 24/7 exposure could have an adverse effect on solar panels. If any panel were to break, it would be exposed to more damage from water, and the cost to replace would increase the more damage that was done.

Potential disruption to aquatic life: As previously stated, FPVs are able to affect the growth of algae, which we consider to be a positive for overall water quality; however, this means they have the potential to kill off friendlier forms of life and affect the aquatic life in that lake due to the panels blocking out the sun and keeping the lake cooler, which could affect specific types of aquatic life, and also the tethers and floatation devices that keep the panels in place could injure animals living in the water. It is recommended that FPVs are placed on man-made lakes with little to no wildlife, but if they are to be placed where wildlife could be affected, regular checks should be made to make sure the wildlife is not being negatively impacted.

Future

As new as floating solar panels are, we are already beginning to see improvements and adaptations into the technology overall aimed at increasing efficiency. In the Netherlands, we have seen advancements in the technology where the solar panels will tilt to follow the sun throughout the day, similar to a sunflower. The tracking technology has already seen an increase in overall electricity production as the panels are able to absorb solar energy throughout the whole day instead of during set times.

As we continue to advance solar technology, floating solar panels seem to be one of the next steps in the advancement of solar energy production. As we contribute to a sustainable future, we may be able to mitigate the effects of climate change. To learn about another advancement in solar technology: transparent solar panels. Check out our article here.