As solar energy technology evolves, so does the way it benefits the population.
Of all the forms of clean energy, solar has always had the highest profile. From the 7th Century B.C., when a crude magnifying glass was used to concentrate the sun’s rays to make fire, to the present day, when photovoltaic cells collect and store solar energy to power just about anything, the bright yellow star in the daytime sky has reigned supreme.
While most solar panels point upward, Next2Sun’s vertical panels collect sunlight from two directions, improving energy efficiency by almost 50 percent. Credit: Next2Sun
One might say solar power is in a golden age. Numerous studies show a growing demand by the public to harness the sun’s free power for electrical grids. Products are being invented and then upgraded to collect the energy for ever-longer use. Farmers are using solar power to make crop harvesting a 24-hour, all-year affair. Builders routinely include solar power in new homes, which makes an attractive (and often, expected) selling point.
There are solar energy-driven devices that are larger than cars and as small as a human thumb. And they’re increasingly affordable (for better or worse): According to a report in Forbes, in the past 10 years, the cost per kilowatt of solar energy has decreased from nearly $2 to about 34 cents; a solar roofing system that cost about $50,000 to install in 2014 might now cost about $35,000.
By all accounts, the solar power industry looks set for years to come. The need for clean energy isn’t going away. The sun isn’t burning out anytime soon. New generations of products are becoming more efficient every year.
New Perspectives on Solar
But there is still one challenge: competition. As with any market, there is a need to stand out from the crowd. Or, to paraphrase a classic sci-fi show: Go where others haven’t gone before.
Not surprisingly, there are companies that are literally doing just that. One place to go: floating solar farms
Floating solar panel technology is not new—although rare, photovoltaic “farms” on the surface of lakes, hydropower reservoirs, agriculture reservoirs, industrial ponds, and near-coastal areas have been an eye-catching sight since its arrival in 2007.
SolarisFloat’s Proteus solar farm uses light sensors and dual axis tracking to precisely gauge the elevation of the sun’s path as it moves from east to west. Credit: Courtesy SolarisFloat
It’s one that people will become even more accustomed to: Floating solar capacity has grown exponentially in the past decade, from 72 gigawatts (GW) in 2011 to 843 GW in 2021, according to a BBC report. Meanwhile, the worldwide floating solar market is expected to grow by about 43 percent from 2023 to 2031, topping 23.5 billion, the report adds.
“Floating solar is a rather new renewable energy option, but it has huge potential globally,” notes Thomas Reindl, deputy chief executive of the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS), in a report from BBC Future Planet. “Covering just 10 percent of all man-made reservoirs in the world with floating solar would result in an installed capacity of 20 terawatts (TW)—20 times more than the global solar photovoltaic capacity today.”
There are numerous advantages to floating solar, such as an absence of land acquisition and site preparation issues associated with traditional solar installations. Floating solar also allows for power generation to be sited closer to areas where demand for electricity is high, such as in countries with high population density and limited available land.
A floating solar farm can complement existing hydropower infrastructure. At a large hydropower plant, only 3-4 percent of the reservoir would need to be covered with floating solar panels to double the electricity generation capacity of the dam, according to a study by The World Bank. And, placement over water helps keep the panels cool, reducing the loss of efficiency caused when they heat up from constant use.
But traditional floating solar farms, just like their land- or roof-bound cousins, have a disadvantage: They function at their peak when they’re facing the sun. Efficiency can drop by as much as 60 percent during other times of the day, according to a report by CleanTechnica.
Duke Energy is testing one solution. As part of its Vision Florida program, the company’s Florida division has developed a 1-megawatt (MW) array made up of more than 1,800 bifacial solar panels. These can generate 10-20 percent more electricity than traditional farms because they capture sunlight on both sides.
Sizeable benefits. Floating solar farms, such as Duke Energy’s test product, can be far more productive than landlocked versions. But sometimes, they need to be quite large, covering an entire pond. Credit: Courtesy Duke Energy
“We’re shaping the energy future with cleaner, smarter solutions that our customers value,” says Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida president. “That means looking for ways to manage costs while making strategic investments to expand renewables and cut emissions without compromising reliability.”
Going a step further, there’s Portugal-based SolarisFloat and its pilot project, Proteus (a.k.a., PROTEVS), a floating photovoltaic system designed to follow the sun throughout the day. Proteus uses mechanical, geospatial and light sensors, dual axis tracking and electric motors to precisely gauge the elevation of the sun’s path as it moves from east to west. Because of constant alignment, the amount of energy generated by the system’s 180 solar panels can be up to 40 percent more than stationary systems, according to the company.
Although systems such as Proteus can be installed in numerous locations, they must be chosen carefully to avoid tidal forces and stormy weather from destroying the panels, as well as their mooring and anchoring systems. Sun tracking systems will also not make much difference at locations near the equator, where the panels are installed almost horizontal and face the sun most of the day, Reindl says.
Proteus panels can be detached, which means they can be merged with other units to form a larger floating solar farm. The company also touts the system’s beneficial effects on the bodies of water where they are located: The shadows formed by the floating structure and solar panels reduce the temperature of the water beneath the array, and there is a 60 percent reduction of evaporation in the body of water below.
The company also says water quality is improved due to a reduction of algae and other micro-organisms because of that shadowing. This reduction can be further enhanced by the installation of oxygenating equipment on board the floating islands.
SolarisFloat is not alone in its pursuit of the sun. Similar systems have been developed by California-based Noria Energy (and its AquaPhi unit), Vermont-headquartered Solaflect Energy (and its self-named unit), and Israeli startup Xfloat. All are reporting customer and financial success along the same lines as SolarisFloat.
It all sounds good. But so far, floating solar farms make up less than 2 percent of the world’s solar installations, according to Michael Walls, a professor of photovoltaics at the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology at Loughborough University in England. This is partly due to factors such as technical, mechanical and financial constraints, and concern over a farm’s impact on other aquatic activities, such as swimming, boating or angling.
“[Companies are] making important progress toward more efficient solar arrays,” CleanTechnica notes. “That increased efficiency makes the business case for solar energy more appealing by shortening the time needed to achieve a positive return on investment for residential and commercial solar customers alike.”
Solar Fence
While a solar floating system points upward to obtain energy, a solar fence does its work while completely upright. Solar technology companies Next2Sun and iSun have collaborated on a vertical agrivoltaics system, a product that allows for solar development on farms without the conversion of agricultural land.
Next2Sun’s bifacial vertical panels collect solar energy on two sides and take up 90 percent less land area than horizontal, south-facing panels. This vertical system is an opportunity for landowners who may want their land to serve multiple purposes, providing the potential for additional income from solar energy generation, according to iSun CEO Jeffrey Peck.
Next2Sun and iSun’s vertical solar panel system can act as property fencing as well as a provider of clean energy. Credit: Next2Sun
“Thanks to the vertical mounting of the modules and the adaptability of the installation to the needs of the farmer, the valuable land is almost completely preserved for agriculture,” Peck says.
While most solar panels collect the majority of energy at midday when the sun is high, the two-sided panels may collect energy in the mornings and evenings when solar generation is typically low, he notes.
Solar expansion is expected alongside the global goal of tripling renewable energy capacity in the coming years, so this method could provide a solution to land use conflicts between the agricultural and renewable energy sectors, he adds.
Next2Sun and iSun also offer a solar fence that uses the same concept as agrivoltaics, enabling use of the solar panels as a fence for livestock farming or residential use.
Alan Naditz is managing editor of Green Builder Magazine. He has covered numerous industries in his extensive career, including residential and commercial construction, small and corporate business, real estate and sustainability.
Follow the Sun
As solar energy technology evolves, so does the way it benefits the population.
Of all the forms of clean energy, solar has always had the highest profile. From the 7th Century B.C., when a crude magnifying glass was used to concentrate the sun’s rays to make fire, to the present day, when photovoltaic cells collect and store solar energy to power just about anything, the bright yellow star in the daytime sky has reigned supreme.
While most solar panels point upward, Next2Sun’s vertical panels collect sunlight from two directions, improving energy efficiency by almost 50 percent. Credit: Next2Sun
One might say solar power is in a golden age. Numerous studies show a growing demand by the public to harness the sun’s free power for electrical grids. Products are being invented and then upgraded to collect the energy for ever-longer use. Farmers are using solar power to make crop harvesting a 24-hour, all-year affair. Builders routinely include solar power in new homes, which makes an attractive (and often, expected) selling point.
There are solar energy-driven devices that are larger than cars and as small as a human thumb. And they’re increasingly affordable (for better or worse): According to a report in Forbes, in the past 10 years, the cost per kilowatt of solar energy has decreased from nearly $2 to about 34 cents; a solar roofing system that cost about $50,000 to install in 2014 might now cost about $35,000.
By all accounts, the solar power industry looks set for years to come. The need for clean energy isn’t going away. The sun isn’t burning out anytime soon. New generations of products are becoming more efficient every year.
New Perspectives on Solar
But there is still one challenge: competition. As with any market, there is a need to stand out from the crowd. Or, to paraphrase a classic sci-fi show: Go where others haven’t gone before.
Not surprisingly, there are companies that are literally doing just that. One place to go: floating solar farms
Floating solar panel technology is not new—although rare, photovoltaic “farms” on the surface of lakes, hydropower reservoirs, agriculture reservoirs, industrial ponds, and near-coastal areas have been an eye-catching sight since its arrival in 2007.
SolarisFloat’s Proteus solar farm uses light sensors and dual axis tracking to precisely gauge the elevation of the sun’s path as it moves from east to west. Credit: Courtesy SolarisFloat
It’s one that people will become even more accustomed to: Floating solar capacity has grown exponentially in the past decade, from 72 gigawatts (GW) in 2011 to 843 GW in 2021, according to a BBC report. Meanwhile, the worldwide floating solar market is expected to grow by about 43 percent from 2023 to 2031, topping 23.5 billion, the report adds.
“Floating solar is a rather new renewable energy option, but it has huge potential globally,” notes Thomas Reindl, deputy chief executive of the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS), in a report from BBC Future Planet. “Covering just 10 percent of all man-made reservoirs in the world with floating solar would result in an installed capacity of 20 terawatts (TW)—20 times more than the global solar photovoltaic capacity today.”
There are numerous advantages to floating solar, such as an absence of land acquisition and site preparation issues associated with traditional solar installations. Floating solar also allows for power generation to be sited closer to areas where demand for electricity is high, such as in countries with high population density and limited available land.
A floating solar farm can complement existing hydropower infrastructure. At a large hydropower plant, only 3-4 percent of the reservoir would need to be covered with floating solar panels to double the electricity generation capacity of the dam, according to a study by The World Bank. And, placement over water helps keep the panels cool, reducing the loss of efficiency caused when they heat up from constant use.
But traditional floating solar farms, just like their land- or roof-bound cousins, have a disadvantage: They function at their peak when they’re facing the sun. Efficiency can drop by as much as 60 percent during other times of the day, according to a report by CleanTechnica.
Duke Energy is testing one solution. As part of its Vision Florida program, the company’s Florida division has developed a 1-megawatt (MW) array made up of more than 1,800 bifacial solar panels. These can generate 10-20 percent more electricity than traditional farms because they capture sunlight on both sides.
Sizeable benefits. Floating solar farms, such as Duke Energy’s test product, can be far more productive than landlocked versions. But sometimes, they need to be quite large, covering an entire pond. Credit: Courtesy Duke Energy
“We’re shaping the energy future with cleaner, smarter solutions that our customers value,” says Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida president. “That means looking for ways to manage costs while making strategic investments to expand renewables and cut emissions without compromising reliability.”
Going a step further, there’s Portugal-based SolarisFloat and its pilot project, Proteus (a.k.a., PROTEVS), a floating photovoltaic system designed to follow the sun throughout the day. Proteus uses mechanical, geospatial and light sensors, dual axis tracking and electric motors to precisely gauge the elevation of the sun’s path as it moves from east to west. Because of constant alignment, the amount of energy generated by the system’s 180 solar panels can be up to 40 percent more than stationary systems, according to the company.
Although systems such as Proteus can be installed in numerous locations, they must be chosen carefully to avoid tidal forces and stormy weather from destroying the panels, as well as their mooring and anchoring systems. Sun tracking systems will also not make much difference at locations near the equator, where the panels are installed almost horizontal and face the sun most of the day, Reindl says.
Proteus panels can be detached, which means they can be merged with other units to form a larger floating solar farm. The company also touts the system’s beneficial effects on the bodies of water where they are located: The shadows formed by the floating structure and solar panels reduce the temperature of the water beneath the array, and there is a 60 percent reduction of evaporation in the body of water below.
The company also says water quality is improved due to a reduction of algae and other micro-organisms because of that shadowing. This reduction can be further enhanced by the installation of oxygenating equipment on board the floating islands.
SolarisFloat is not alone in its pursuit of the sun. Similar systems have been developed by California-based Noria Energy (and its AquaPhi unit), Vermont-headquartered Solaflect Energy (and its self-named unit), and Israeli startup Xfloat. All are reporting customer and financial success along the same lines as SolarisFloat.
It all sounds good. But so far, floating solar farms make up less than 2 percent of the world’s solar installations, according to Michael Walls, a professor of photovoltaics at the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology at Loughborough University in England. This is partly due to factors such as technical, mechanical and financial constraints, and concern over a farm’s impact on other aquatic activities, such as swimming, boating or angling.
“[Companies are] making important progress toward more efficient solar arrays,” CleanTechnica notes. “That increased efficiency makes the business case for solar energy more appealing by shortening the time needed to achieve a positive return on investment for residential and commercial solar customers alike.”
Solar Fence
While a solar floating system points upward to obtain energy, a solar fence does its work while completely upright. Solar technology companies Next2Sun and iSun have collaborated on a vertical agrivoltaics system, a product that allows for solar development on farms without the conversion of agricultural land.
Next2Sun’s bifacial vertical panels collect solar energy on two sides and take up 90 percent less land area than horizontal, south-facing panels. This vertical system is an opportunity for landowners who may want their land to serve multiple purposes, providing the potential for additional income from solar energy generation, according to iSun CEO Jeffrey Peck.
Next2Sun and iSun’s vertical solar panel system can act as property fencing as well as a provider of clean energy. Credit: Next2Sun
“Thanks to the vertical mounting of the modules and the adaptability of the installation to the needs of the farmer, the valuable land is almost completely preserved for agriculture,” Peck says.
While most solar panels collect the majority of energy at midday when the sun is high, the two-sided panels may collect energy in the mornings and evenings when solar generation is typically low, he notes.
Solar expansion is expected alongside the global goal of tripling renewable energy capacity in the coming years, so this method could provide a solution to land use conflicts between the agricultural and renewable energy sectors, he adds.
Next2Sun and iSun also offer a solar fence that uses the same concept as agrivoltaics, enabling use of the solar panels as a fence for livestock farming or residential use.
By Alan Naditz
Alan Naditz is managing editor of Green Builder Magazine. He has covered numerous industries in his extensive career, including residential and commercial construction, small and corporate business, real estate and sustainability.Also Read