One of the coolest innovations in solar power is the floating solar panels. Throughout the world there are different areas that have more appeal for solar power. However, that doesn’t change the drive that people have towards clean energy. Many homes have trees or obstructions in the way so shade is cast at multiple times of the day. So, what is the place that has the least amount of shade? That’s right, open bodies of water. Especially beneficial for islanders, floating solar panels allow the generation of clean energy by placing them in open waters.
What are the Benefits of Floating Solar Panels?
There are tons of benefits of floating solar panels. These include:
- Creating Space – Large solar installations are primarily the reason for floating solar panels. These large solar farms take up a large amount of space. Using open bodies of water eliminates the necessity of space on land.
- Higher Solar Panel Performance – Solar panels generate energy from the sun. Not the heat. In fact, if solar panels become overheated, then they do not function as well as they should. Placing them on the water allows them to have a constant coolant system.
- Environmental Benefits – Water cools the solar panels from overheating. However, it works in the reverse as well. Solar panels blanket the water and create shade over a very large area. This cools down the water and prevents evaporation from occurring on a large-scale.
Examples
Sungrow Power Supply possess the largest floating solar panel farm in the world. It is located in China and is able to power around 15,000 homes.
Germany’s Baywa is building the largest floating solar panel farm in Europe. It is on Dutch Lake in the Netherlands.
The biggest Japanese floating solar farm is located at the Yamakura Dam at Ichihara in Chiba Prefecture. It is made up of around 60,000 solar panels.