Global Rise Of Floating Solar
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Floating Solar, Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Farniente2.jpg (Attribution-SolarWriter, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license, Presented at: WindermereSun.com)
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Recall one of our previous posts, OUC’s Floating Solar As Part Of The March Toward 100% Renewable Energy, it is time to update our understanding of the progress of rising global floating solar. As floating solar installations continue to grow globally, according to a Fitch Solutions report, Asia is leading the way in the coming decade, with opportunities for floating solar in combination with pumped hydro storage. There were 16 floating solar projects registered in Fitch Solutions‘ Key Project Database (KPD) in December of 2020, and now there are 22 projects, increased by 37.5%, with an expected total installed capacity of 10GW.
Florida may be called the Sunshine State, but it is no stranger to the damaging impacts of climate change. Miles O’Brien profiles one small Florida community that is trying to take advantage of all that sunshine, billed as the country’s first solar-powered town. This report is part of our collaborative series on climate change and its consequences, “Covering Climate Now.” in the video published on April 13, 2021, “Small Florida community aims for energy independence by harnessing the power of the sun“, below:
Have you ever heard of floating solar farms? In recent years, such structures have become more and more popular, and some experts even say that in the future they will completely replace traditional solar panels. Floating solar farms generate more electricity than conventional panels while helping to prevent climate change. The authorities of some countries have already announced several megaprojects for their construction. Will they be able to solve the global energy crisis? And how are they arranged in general? Let’s figure it out! The potential of solar energy in the world is estimated at 80 Petawatts, which is three times more than all the needs of mankind today. However, in order to use it fully, humanity will need to cover the entire earth’s surface with solar panels. And this means that we need to donate fertile land and meadows for grazing, not to mention the complete disappearance of territories with wild animals, in the video published on Nov 2, 2021, “Can floating solar farms solve the energy crisis?“
Roughly 150km south of Shanghai a gigantic civil engineering experiment is underway that’s causing international ripples in more ways than one, in the video published on July 14, 2021, “The World’s Largest Floating Solar Farm“, below:
In the next decade, Singapore must confront the interconnected challenges of climate change, a growing population and the need to remain globally competitive on a small island. The solution is to invest in innovative new megaprojects that do more in less space. This episode tells the story of how engineers designed and constructed one of the world’s biggest floating solar farms on Tengah Reservoir. We show how engineers solve the challenges of a unique environment. When completed, the energy generated by the Tengah solar farm will help Singapore achieve ambitious new solar targets by the end of the decade. And scientists are looking further into the future. To boost the country’s solar energy output, they are developing the next generation of solar panels and transforming the nation’s power grid, in the video published on Sep 3, 2021, “One Of World’s Largest Floating Solar Farms: Singapore’s Solar Plan | Tomorrow City|Part 2/3“, below:
To reduce its carbon footprint, Singapore is turning to renewable energy. And that means creating one of the world’s largest floating solar farms at Tengeh Reservoir. It is about the size of 45 football fields, and it can churn out enough electricity to power 16,000 four-room HDB flats for a year, in the video published on May 18, 2021, “Why Singapore built one of the world’s biggest floating solar farms“, below:
The world’s first-ever high-altitude floating solar farm produces clean green energy in such an efficient way that its creators are looking to expand and use the technology in similar locations around the world, in the video “The high-altitude solar farm floating to success“, below:
Construction on Indonesia’s first floating solar power plant is under way. The facility is expected to power more than 50,000 homes. Demand for floating solar technology is growing in Southeast Asia, with several big projects recently finished or being developed. Many Southeast Asian countries have announced their aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 or shortly after, and floating solar technology may be a significant part of realising those goals, in the video published on Nov 9, 2021, “Indonesia starts work on Southeast Asia’s largest floating solar plant”, below:
Solar panels on artificial lakes are nothing new. But there are high expectations when it comes to the biggest floating solar park outside of Asia, built right near the city of Zwolle in the Netherlands. We check out its longevity and how it could be a space-saving solution to our energy needs, in the video “Water good idea: how Europe is saving space with floating solar parks“, below:
Thailand is close to completing one the world’s biggest hydro-floating solar hybrid projects on the surface of a dam, part of steps towards boosting renewable energy production after years of criticism for reliance on fossil fuels. Some 144,417 units of solar panels are being installed on a reservoir in the northeast province of Ubon Ratchathani, where workers are completing the last of seven solar farms covering 300 acres (121 hectares) of water area. Authorities are aiming to complete the project in June. Thailand has long relied on coal for its power, but plans for new coal-fired projects have been met with opposition over health and environmental risks, including two proposed southern coal plants shelved in 2018. It is aiming to draw 35% of its energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2037, according to its latest Power Development Plan. Global News’ meteorologist Ross Hull has more, in the video published on April 20, 2021, “Thailand close to completing world’s biggest hydro-floating solar farm“, below:
In the video “Massive hybrid floating solar farm takes shape on hydropower dam reservoir in Thailand“, below:
India’s biggest floating solar plant is being built at Ramagundam balancing reservoir in Telangana, in the video published on Aug 28, 2021, “India’s 450 acre floating solar plant“, below:
Our Future of Living on the Water – Floating Cities? In the video published on July 27, 2021, “Our Future of Living on the Water – Floating Cities?” below:
Floating Solar Ecosystems can be a powerful way to improve water quality in rivers, canals & lakes. In Chennai, this Solar Active Island Reactor on the Adyar River draws in river water polluted with wastewater and industrial waste and returns the cleaned water back to the environmen, in the video published on March 2, 2020, “Floating Solar Ecosystems Help to Bring Polluted Rivers to Life“, below:
Gathered, written, and posted by Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker More about the community at www.WindermereSun.com
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