Floating Solar PV Power Plants

Adwit Solar

Floating Solar PV

As its name floating solar PV, PV modules mounted on floating flat form type of structure that floats on water surface.

It is applicable in water reservoirs, lakes, irrigation water storage ponds, industrial water storage ponds and man made ponds where water in steady condition.

An institute of Japan built first FSPV of 20 KW in 2007 and in 2008 first commercial scale Floating Solar PV plant of 175 KW built in 2008 in California USA.

China is a leading country in FSPV in terms of capacity & Japan in No’s of installations.

India started its first pilot project of FSPV of 10 KW in Kolkata (WB) in 2015.

In 2016 NTPC installed in Kerala 100 KW and the journey begins with more than 1 MW by 2019.

                                                    Why Floating Solar

 1 MW ground mounted solar power project requires 2.5 to 4 acres of land (It depends upon the PV technology and PV module size selection) and land acquisition is not easy & time consuming in India.

 Floating solar PV uses water surface, so there is no need of land (except for power station equipment's and transmission).

                                                     Working & Construction

 Working is similar as normal solar PV plants and construction is also similar except below systems.

 Floating System: A floating body, including structure and floater that allows the installation of the PV modules.

 Mooring System: Can adjust to water level fluctuations while maintaining its position in a southward direction and make it float at a fixed location.

Advantages of Floating Solar Is As Below:-

Saving of Land - Floating solar mounted on a structure that floats on water, so there is no need of land similar to ground mounted PV except limited surfaces necessary for substations & grid connections.

Saving In Water Evaporation - It mounted on water surface, so the water evaporation will save due to hot climate conditions.

Easy Tracking - It is float on water surface, so vertical tracking easily perform without a complex mechanical arrangement as similar to ground mounted PV.

Easy Cleaning - As water available, but after check the water properties, so it will not harm the PV panels.

Performance Improvement - As PV panel made of semi conductor material, so ambient temperature of floating solar PV lower than the ground mounted due to water surface.

Easy Assembling/Integration - Easy Integration just to connect each part there is no requirement of civil construction.

 Floating Solar PV has dozens of advantages with only few small disadvantages:-

Higher Cost: Due to Floating plate forms as compare to ground mounted its cost 15 to 25% higher.

 

Hurdles in Transportation & Fishing activities: Due to solar PV installations on water surface, transportation & fishing activities cannot perform in installation area.

 

System Life: Due to higher humidity and climate conditions life of PV system effected.

 

Tough Maintenance Conditions: As compare to ground mounted working conditions for maintenance team due to work on floating plate form.

 For more learning you can visit our YouTube channel Adwit Solar