Cost of floating solar power plant

What are floating solar panels?

Learn the pros and cons of floating solar panels (also known as floatovoltaics), a way to generate solar energy on open water.

Does floating solar cost more than land solar?

Bartle estimates floating solar costs 10-15 percent more than land solar initially, but owners save money in the long run. Deeper water can increase installation costs, and the technology can’t operate on fast-moving water, on the open ocean, or shorelines with large waves.

How many solar panels does a floating solar system have?

Those that invest in floating solar often have access to a large body of water to fit hundreds or thousands of solar panels. Unlike these types of installations, the average residential solar panel system has roughly 20 panels.

Do floating solar panels save water?

Floating solar panels pull double duty by saving water, too. By shading the water underneath, they help cut down on evaporation, which is crucial in dry areas where water’s in short supply. Plus, by blocking out sunlight, they can help keep algae growth in check, which means cleaner water for all.

How much solar power will a floating solar system produce?

Covering 10% of the world’s hydropower reservoirs with floating solar panels would install nearly 4,000 GW of solar capacity 9 — equivalent to the electricity-generation capacity of all fossil-fuel plants in operation worldwide.

Are floating solar panels a good investment?

Floating solar panel systems are beginning to boom in the United States after rapid growth in Asia. They’re attractive not just for their clean power and lack of a land footprint, but because they also conserve water by preventing evaporation.