Floating Solar PV

craigshieldsPosted on May 22, 2019 Posted in Photovoltaics

Here’s something with real merit: floating solar panels, for places where land is at a premium, perhaps Europe and Japan.

It’s believable that installation and maintenance costs could be fairly close to ground mounted systems, and it’s also true that the proximity to the water will improve the efficiency by cooling the panels.

In addition, there are places that the evaporation of the water is causing ecological problems by concentrating the pollutants; California’s Salton Sea is a prime example.  Floating PV in cases like these would be killing two birds with one stone.

‹ Taking Matters Not-Too-Seriously

Purity of Intention ›

Tagged with: evaporation of water causing ecological problems by concentrating the pollutants California's Salton Sea, floating solar panels, ground mounted systems, improve the efficiency by cooling the panels

One comment on “Floating Solar PV”

1. marcopolo says:

   May 23, 2019 at 8:42 am

   Craig,

   The metal in the panels constriction will rapidly corrode, and the panels themselves will rapidly age and need to be replaced.

   The problem of what to do with obsolete panels, is becoming an eco-logical nightmare.

   Added t6o the problem, is no environmental studies have been completed to examine the damage to the local environment (including fauna and flora). the few preliminary studies reveal the urgent need for intensi8ve monitoring and better studies.