America is ready for the largest project ever in keeping up with its carbon-free initiative. This time, however, America is focused not on rooftop solar panels but on underwater solar power. According to a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), all of the reservoirs throughout the country will be able to host solar panels capable of providing power to over 100 million homes per year. With more than 1,476 terawatt-hours of energy possibly generated on water, the idea of floating photovoltaics, commonly known as “floatovoltaics,” is a possibility. America could very well be on the brink of saying goodbye to over 10,000 rooftop solar power systems, but the country will also be saying hello to an era of floatovoltaics.
Improving the solar energy game with floating panels
The popularity of floating solar panels in countries like Europe and Asia cannot be denied, and new research is showing the incredible power that can be generated by these floating panels. The way these floating panels work is by relying on bodies of water in ponds or reservoirs.
Since the panels are found floating, the water keeps the panels cooler by 15%. The panels can reduce evaporation, which is essential in certain areas. The good news is that the system can be installed on existing infrastructure, eliminating all the costs associated with installation.
Researchers are able to rely on factors such as water depth and temperature to determine viability. Another incredible benefit is that many sites in the country can support medium to large-scale installations that range between 10 megawatts (MW) to 1 gigawatt (GW).
More about America’s clean energy agenda move
Initially, the NREL study was focused on managed reservoirs as part of the hydropower systems. From the study, it is clear that floating solars have the advantage of providing more consistent energy to the grid.
Particular states like California, Texas, and Oklahoma have many reservoirs, thus floating panels are great to install to take care of the ongoing demand for energy whilst keeping up with the climate protection agenda. While Thailand and China have considered floating solar farms, America has yet to consider what potential floating systems could offer the country.
America is still dealing with challenges
With 92,000 panels floating like blossoms, the reservoir shimmers with hidden power in the Southern area of Korea, but America still has to scale up and go down the floating panels route. Nevertheless, there are challenges with this project. There are wildlife concerns, construction costs, and environmental regulations that still need to be overcome.
With more research, the NREL team is willing to handle any economic and social issues to ensure that all possible complexities are addressed adequately. There is no possible reason to back off on the floatovoltaics agenda, as even 10% of the potential harnessed could power up more than 10 million homes.
Considering floatovoltaics as future energy potential
Floating solar power systems, or rather floatovoltaics, may very well be taking over the traditional solar landscape, more so since large solar installations require land to be installed. America has to consider its reservoirs as the most scalable solution to ensure cleaner power generation. Even the lesser-known reservoirs in the Midwest can be considered lucrative for a floatovoltaics future.
The time has come for various energy companies and respective communities, along with policymakers, to get involved so as to adjust how we harness power from solar initiatives. Floatovoltaics will provide future energy potential. Aside from just saying goodbye to traditional rooftop solar panels, we could be saying goodbye to wind power throughout the world, as a floating solar plant can mimic island architecture. With the floating solar concept already being adopted by France, it is only a matter of time before America realizes the immense potential in investing in these floating panels. This is perhaps the largest project yet, and America is proving that it’s ready.
