Articles tagged with "floating-solar"
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.
energysolar-powerfloating-solarrenewable-energyUK-energyphotovoltaicclean-energyFloating Solar: Death By A Thousand Cuts For Fossil Fuels
The article discusses the growing potential and advantages of floating solar photovoltaic (PV) technology as a significant contributor to the renewable energy transition, despite recent setbacks in U.S. federal energy policy. Floating solar arrays, which can be installed on reservoirs, lakes, or open water, offer a solution to land constraints and reduce site preparation costs, making them an attractive option for expanding solar capacity. A 2018 U.S. Department of Energy assessment identified over 24,000 suitable sites nationwide, with the potential to generate about 10% of the country's annual electricity at that time. Globally, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is leading in floating solar development, with projections indicating it will account for the majority of the anticipated 77 gigawatts of global floating solar capacity by 2033. A recent study highlights Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia and Malaysia, as optimal early deployment zones due to favorable environmental and economic conditions, noting that less than 2% of offshore water surface in 84%
energyrenewable-energyfloating-solarsolar-powerclean-energyoffshore-photovoltaicenergy-transitionA Texas-Sized Floating Solar Plant Is Coming To Texas, Of Course
Texas is set to become home to the largest floating solar power plant in the United States, a 391-megawatt facility that far surpasses the scale of existing US floating solar projects, which typically range from just a few megawatts. This massive installation will be part of the Pleasure Island Power Collective, a combined energy and data center development located on Sabine Lake and Pleasure Island near Port Arthur, Texas. The project will cover 2,275 acres on a man-made land stretch created over a century ago alongside the Port Arthur Canal. The Pleasure Island Power Collective is spearheaded by Diligence, a startup founded in 2023 and billed as America’s first Black-owned vertically integrated utility company. Diligence aims to integrate wind, solar, storage, and service to promote energy independence and economic growth in the Gulf Coast region. Despite shifts in federal energy policy and the absence of federal subsidies or tax abatements, Diligence is advancing the project independently. The company has partnered
energysolar-powerfloating-solarrenewable-energyTexas-energy-projectsclean-energyenergy-transition47 MW floating solar project goes operational in South Korea
South Korea has commissioned a 47 MW floating solar power project at Imha Dam near Andong, marking the largest floating photovoltaic (PV) installation on a multipurpose dam in the country. The hybrid facility integrates solar power generation during daylight with the existing 50 MW hydropower plant at the dam, enabling continuous renewable energy output by switching to hydropower overnight. Developed collaboratively by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Korea Water Resources Corporation, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, and the City of Andong, with Top Solar as the EPC contractor, the project cost approximately $50 million and was completed in September. The floating solar array consists of 16 interconnected platforms designed to reflect South Korea’s national symbols—the Taegeukgi flag and Mugunghwa flower—combining functional efficiency with cultural significance. Core technology was supplied by Seoul-based Scotra, while solar modules were provided by domestic manufacturer Shinsung E&G. The hybrid plant is expected to generate around 61 GWh annually
energyrenewable-energysolar-powerfloating-solarhydropowerclean-energySouth-KoreaNew Supersized Floating Solar System Puts Catamarans To Work
The article highlights significant advancements in the floating solar industry, focusing on the French company Ciel & Terre’s new large-scale floating solar system called Fusio®. Building on years of experience—including projects ranging from a 252 kW array in California to a 4.4 MW installation in New Jersey, the largest in the US and Canada—Ciel & Terre has developed a pyramid-inspired triangular substructure designed for enhanced durability and adaptability to various solar panels. This design improves structural resistance to environmental forces, increases airflow to cool panels and boost efficiency, and reduces manufacturing and transportation costs due to its compact form. A notable innovation accompanying the Fusio® system is the use of specialized catamarans for maintenance. These boats navigate directly over the floating arrays, enabling safer, faster, and more efficient access to panels, inverters, and cabling without requiring workers to walk on the installations or carry heavy equipment. This approach reduces maintenance costs and safety risks, potentially increasing the long-term yield of floating solar power
energyfloating-solarrenewable-energysolar-powerclean-energysolar-technologysustainable-energyHoneycomb floating solar system offers 30 years of durability
French company Ciel & Terre has developed a new honeycomb-inspired floating solar platform called Fusio, designed to improve performance and efficiency in large-scale floating photovoltaic (FPV) projects. Drawing on structural engineering principles from bridges and skyscrapers, Fusio uses a triangular honeycomb geometry to enhance stability and load distribution. The elevated solar panels increase airflow beneath the modules, providing a natural cooling effect that can boost energy output by up to 2% in warm climates. The system supports PV modules up to 800 watts-peak with adjustable tilt angles, allowing adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and scalable deployment from small reservoirs to utility-scale water bodies. Fusio’s compact triangular float design reduces transportation and installation costs, while an optimized production process and streamlined on-site assembly enable faster deployment and lower project downtime. Maintenance is simplified through a catamaran-based navigation system that allows safe operator access without walking on the array, complemented by integrated cleaning systems to sustain performance. The floats are made from UV-stabilized
energysolar-energyfloating-solarphotovoltaicrenewable-energyenergy-efficiencysolar-technologyA Quiet Floating Solar Revolution Is Bubbling Up In The US
The article highlights a growing but low-profile adoption of floating solar technology in the United States, particularly among water system owners and institutions constrained by land availability. Despite political challenges to the solar industry, floating solar is gaining momentum as a cost-effective, resilient, and water-conserving energy solution. Nova Southeastern University (NSU) recently became the first US university to integrate a commercial-scale floating solar system, a two-acre installation powering its new student housing. This project exemplifies the maturing floating solar supply chain, featuring specialized, hurricane-resistant platforms that enable rapid installation without land disruption. Beyond universities, floating solar is proving valuable for water treatment plants, which can significantly offset their electricity consumption. The Signal Hill Water Treatment Plant in Utah, developed by Ameresco and D3Energy, completed a 587.5-kilowatt floating solar array ahead of schedule in September 2024. This installation is expected to reduce the plant’s grid energy use by 92% and annual energy costs by 80%.
energysolar-powerfloating-solarrenewable-energyclean-energyenergy-storagesustainabilityGermany launches 'world's first' vertical floating solar power plant
Germany has launched the world’s first vertical floating solar power plant at the Jais gravel pit in Bavaria, developed by renewable energy company SINN Power. The plant has an installed capacity of 1.87 megawatts (MW) and is expected to generate about two gigawatt-hours (GWh) annually, enough to power hundreds of households while covering only 4.65% of the lake’s surface. The innovative system features a patented Skipp-Float design with solar panels oriented vertically in an east-west direction, separated by open water corridors to allow light reflection and air circulation. This configuration enhances balanced power generation throughout the day, boosting output during morning and evening hours when traditional solar panels are less efficient. The floating modules are anchored about 1.6 meters below the water surface with a keel-like structure, enabling flexibility with wind and water level changes. The plant connects to the grid via a floating cable and shore-based feed-in point, ensuring smooth energy transfer without disrupting the lake’s
energysolar-powerrenewable-energyfloating-solarclean-energyenergy-efficiencyGermanySelf-adjusting Tension Buoy anchors floating solar on hydro dams
Fred. Olsen 1848 has developed the Tension Buoy, an innovative adaptive mooring system designed to stabilize floating solar installations on hydropower reservoirs where water levels fluctuate significantly. Traditional mooring systems often suffer from tension issues as water depths change, leading to strain on anchors and reduced platform efficiency and lifespan. The Tension Buoy addresses this by automatically adjusting the length of the mooring chain via a compact winch mechanism integrated into the buoy, maintaining consistent tension without manual intervention. This design enhances reliability, reduces maintenance, and can be used both during installation and for ongoing operation. This technology unlocks the potential for combining floating solar with hydropower generation on reservoirs previously considered unsuitable due to dynamic water conditions. By ensuring stable anchoring despite water level variations, the Tension Buoy enables more resilient and efficient hybrid solar-hydro energy systems. Floating solar can provide daytime electricity, complementing hydropower’s steady output and improving overall renewable energy consistency. Fred. Olsen 1848’s
energyrenewable-energyfloating-solarhydropoweradaptive-mooringclean-energysolar-hydro-hybridUS' tiny floating solar project uses sun-tracking for higher output
Noria Energy has initiated construction on Aurea Solar, a pioneering 50-kilowatt floating solar pilot project at the Fairmount Reservoir in Golden, Colorado. This project, developed in partnership with the Consolidated Mutual Water Company (CMWC), aims to supply clean energy for local water utility operations while demonstrating how reservoirs nationwide could serve as renewable power plants. Notably, Aurea Solar is the first U.S. project to integrate floating solar technology with high-performance sun-tracking capabilities, using Noria’s proprietary AquaPhi system. This system allows solar panels to rotate and follow the sun, increasing energy output by 10 to 20 percent compared to fixed floating solar arrays. Floating solar offers dual benefits by generating renewable energy without occupying land and reducing water evaporation from reservoirs. Scheduled to begin operations in September 2025, Aurea Solar will power pumps that regulate water supply for over 100,000 residents in the Denver area. The project involves collaboration with GRID Alternatives and Hazelett Marine, enhancing
energyrenewable-energyfloating-solarsolar-tracking-technologysolar-powerwater-conservationclean-energyTiny Floating Solar Projects Makes Big Waves In US
The article highlights the growing interest and innovation in floating solar power projects in the United States, focusing on a modest yet pioneering 50-kilowatt installation by California-based Noria Energy on the Fairmont Reservoir in Golden, Colorado. This project is notable for deploying Noria’s proprietary AquaPhi® solar tracking system, which allows floating solar arrays to rotate and follow the sun, boosting energy output by 10–20%. Unlike traditional solar trackers designed for land-based arrays, AquaPhi® is tailored for water-based systems and can be integrated into new or existing floating solar projects, potentially improving the economic viability of larger-scale deployments. Beyond the pilot project, the article points to a broader trend of expanding floating solar initiatives in the US. For example, Houston startup Third Pillar Solar is exploring a massive 500-megawatt floating solar project on reservoirs managed by Diamond Infrastructure Solutions in Texas, aiming to conserve water by reducing evaporation by an estimated 15%. This project, potentially worth over $700 million
energysolar-powerfloating-solarrenewable-energysolar-trackersclean-energywater-conservation90% diesel cut drives Norway fish farm to scale floating solar energy
Norwegian fish farm Emilsen Fisk has significantly reduced its diesel consumption by over 90% through the installation of a floating solar power plant developed by Ålesund-based company Alotta. The Alotta Circle Mc120 system, installed at Emilsen Fisk’s Båfjordstranda site in Trøndelag, combines high-efficiency photovoltaic panels with onboard battery storage to meet nearly all of the farm’s energy needs without relying on the grid or diesel generators. This installation is notable for being the world’s northernmost floating solar plant and has prompted Emilsen Fisk to order a second unit, which will initially be deployed at a different site before supporting the farm’s goal of full renewable energy coverage. The floating solar solution has delivered multiple benefits, including cost savings, reduced emissions, and improved operational conditions, marking a shift in aquaculture energy use from diesel to renewable sources. The Norwegian solar government agency partially funded the project, covering 45% of the initial system cost, aiming to encourage wider adoption of clean energy in
energyrenewable-energysolar-powerfloating-solarbattery-storageaquaculture-energyclean-energy-solutionsArizona Tribes Explore The Benefits Of Floating Solar - CleanTechnica
energyfloating-solarclean-energywater-conservationrenewable-energyColorado-RiverIndigenous-communities