It’s been a long lead-up, but it appears construction of Australia’s first floating solar farm is about to begin.
ABC News reports Infratech Industries’ Felicia Whiting said the array at a wastewater treatment facility in Jamestown in South Australia’s mid-north region will be operational by early April. Equipment is expected to start arriving at the site within the next couple of weeks.
The reason for the rapid completion of construction after the on-site start date is due to much of the fabrication having been carried out offsite.
The system uses high-density polyethylene pipe for buoyancy and a structural steel pontoon that the solar panels slot into. Ms. Whiting says the coolness of the water will help to boost panel efficiency and water evaporation below the panels will be reduced by approximately 90%.
In addition to preserving land and water resources, floating solar panel systems also assist in curbing algae growth in dam environments.
Infratech Industries says its design operates under all weather conditions and can also withstand 80 knot winds, up to 10 meters in water level differential can be accommodated daily and 2 meter peak and trough waves – although those conditions are unlikely at the Jamestown facility.
The power station will not only provide electricity for the treatment plant; any surplus will be used by the homes and businesses in Jamestown.
Electricity will be supplied under the terms of a confidential power purchase agreement (also known as a solar PPA) with Northern Areas Council, which was signed in June 2013.
Infratech Industries says it has been developing floating solar power plants in countries including France and South Korea. The Jamestown project will be used a showpiece around the world.
Another, albeit much smaller, system associated with water to be installed in Jamestown is at the community’s swimming pool where a 12KW Yingli solar panel system will be used.
According to Council documents, the system will be mounted on a new 13 x 7 square metre free-standing shelter that will replace an existing shade-cloth covered structure on the eastern side of the main pool. The solar panels will create the roof covering and allow the shelter to be used for a shaded seating area.
Jamestown is situated 207 kilometres north of Adelaide. It’s the birthplace of Australian bush legend, Reginald Murray Williams (R. M. Williams) and actor Paul Cronin. The area boasts what was the world’s first plantation forest at Bundaleer Station; planted in 1876.
