Once a novelty, floating solar power systems are becoming more common.
We’ve covered a number of floating solar arrays over the years, including Synergy’s Floating Concentrating Photovoltaic (F-CPV) system, an Australian company constructing a floating solar farm in India, the “Floatovoltaics” concept by SPG solar and New Jersey American Water’s floating solar array.
Another system to add is Ciel et Terre’s floating solar platform, Hydrelio.
An R&D partnership between France’s IFP Energies Nouvelles and Ciel et Terre has resulted in the system recently being launched in international markets.
The modular system can be used to construct power plants of up to 50 megawatt capacity. Each module consists of two HDPE plastic floats – one supports the solar panel and the other is used as a link and to provide maintenance access. The floats are joined with weather-resistant connection pins to form rafts of solar panels.
Far from being a fair-weather sailor, the system can withstand up to 190kph winds and changes in water levels of up to 6 meters says Ciel et Terre – the latter an aspect that would be useful in Australia given how much and how often our dam levels substantially rise and fall.
In addition to being an alternative to taking up valuable land, floating solar panel systems can help reduce algae growth in dam environments and reduce evaporation.
Due to the cooling effect of water on solar panels, Ciel et Terre says its systems generate more electricity than land-based solar farms of a similar size
Ciel et Terre has been operating a pilot plant since February 2011 and is developing a 12 MW and a 4 MW floating solar system that will power thousands of households in the south of France. Three other solar projects representing a total of 31MW are also in the pipeline.
IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN) is a public-sector research, innovation and training center active in the fields of energy, transport and the environment.
