UK Floating Solar Power Performance Improved By Tracking - CleanTechnica

A recent study by University of Exeter researchers found that implementing azimuthal tracking on floating photovoltaic (FPV) solar panels in the UK can increase annual energy production by up to 26.9% compared to fixed arrays. Azimuthal tracking involves rotating the panels horizontally to follow the sun’s movement across the sky, optimizing solar irradiance capture. Despite the UK’s relatively low solar irradiance, the study highlights that floating solar with tracking is unexpectedly competitive and could significantly contribute to the UK’s renewable energy mix alongside wind power. Floating solar technology offers additional advantages, such as not requiring dry land, reducing water evaporation, and allowing installations on reservoirs or lagoons often located away from population centers, minimizing visual impact concerns common with land-based wind turbines. With UK solar power recently surpassing 6% of national electricity generation and many untapped water bodies suitable for FPV, floating solar combined with tracking presents a scalable, cost-effective pathway for expanding clean energy deployment in the country.