Floating Solar Farms: What Are They?
Floating solar farms, sometimes referred to as floatovoltaics or floating photovoltaic (PV) systems, are solar farms with panels built over bodies of water, including lakes, reservoirs, and even the ocean. These solar panels are mounted on floats that are fastened to the water’s surface. The panels link to the electrical grid, and the energy they produce is sent into neighbouring communities or establishments for use.
The Floating Solar Plant’s Components
An anchoring system with mooring lines, a power converter with wires, and a bPolyethylene used to make the buoyancy body is strong enough to support 2.5 times its own weight. Despite the variations in the water level, it stays constant. Anti-rust material is used in the construction of the horizontal and vertical frames. Additionally, the solar modules must be free of lead, impervious to dust, and resilient to the impacts of continuous water jets as well as humidity. In addition, the cables are insulated while submerged,buoyancy body that holds the PV modules make up a floating solar plant structure.
Working Of Floating Solar Plant
- The PV modules produce DC electricity, which is stored in the combiner boxes.
- This electricity is then converted to AC current through inverters.
- The inverter sends the energy through the cables to the mainland.
It is distinct because every piece of electrical equipment is mounted on floating Ferro-cement platforms, including the transformer, inverter, supervisory control, and data collecting systems. The reason it doesn’t float away is that high modulus polyethylene ropes tether the body to concrete blocks on the reservoir bed.
An extensive analysis of the water bed’s topography, depth, and fluctuations in water level is done prior to mounting.
What Advantages Do Floating Solar Farms Offer?
Of course, one advantage of floating solar farms is that they provide green energy, but this is true of all solar power systems. They differ from standard solar farms, though, in a few respects.
A Space-Efficient Solution
Floating solar farms offer a significant advantage over traditional ground-mounted solar farms, they make efficient use of space. While ground-mounted solar farms require large tracts of land, often difficult to obtain in densely populated areas, floating solar farms can be installed on bodies of water, such as lakes or reservoirs. This not only saves land for other uses but also reduces the overall cost of solar energy production.
Increased Efficiency with Water Cooling
They have a significant advantage over ground-based solar systems, they can produce more energy due to their water-cooling system. Water is a more efficient coolant than air, allowing floating solar panels to generate 5 to 6% more energy compared to their air-cooled counterparts. This increased efficiency is a result of the constant supply of water available to keep the panels cool.
Conserving Water with Floating Solar Farms
Floating solar farms can help conserve water, especially in regions prone to droughts. By shading the water’s surface, these installations reduce evaporation, preserving water levels in reservoirs. This is particularly valuable for communities that rely on these reservoirs for drinking water. Additionally, when combined with hydropower plants, floating solar farms can help maintain water levels in reservoirs, ensuring sufficient water for both electricity generation and other uses.
Abundant Sunlight
Floating solar farms have a clear advantage when it comes to sunlight exposure. Bodies of water offer unobstructed views of the sky, allowing solar panels to receive ample sunlight throughout the day. This ensures that these farms can produce maximum energy output whenever the sun is shining.
Reducing Algae Blooms
Floating solar farms can help protect aquatic ecosystems by reducing the growth of algae. Algae need sunlight to thrive, and floating solar panels block a significant amount of light from reaching the water. This can help prevent harmful algae blooms, which can negatively impact marine life.
Conclusion
Floating solar farms are a great way to use the sun’s energy without taking up land. They float on water and can be built in places like lakes and reservoirs. This helps keep the land free for other things. They are a clean and efficient way to get energy, and they can help meet the growing need for renewable power.
Floating solar farms are still new and not used by many people. So, they can’t help most homes use less electricity from fossil fuels and save money. But RAR Energy offers plans that can help you save money on your electricity bills.
