Global inventory map of floating photovoltaics
A Chinese-US research group has created an up-to-date spatial datase to identify floating PV systems across the globe. The new tool uses Google Earth images, Sentinel satellite imagery, and multiple spectral indices.
Assessing complementarity of offshore hybrid wind-solar projects in Belgian North Sea
A group of researchers from Belgium performed a complementarity analysis for offshore wind power combined with floating photovoltaics. The team found that complementarity is strong on weekly and monthly timescales, and that it can increase under certain climate change scenarios. Assuming a full permanent transmission loading capability, the researchers calculated that a 3 GW floating solar plant added to the existing wind power in the Belgian North Sea would increase the renewable electricity yield by 47% while occupying only a limited surface area.
Q Energy begins work on Europe’s largest floating PV plant
Q Energy says it will deploy a 74.3 MW floating PV array in northwestern France. The project should take around 18 months to complete, with commissioning scheduled for 2025.
New floating PV system design from Brazil
A Brazilian consortium is testing a new floating PV system design on a lake in the state of Sao Paulo. The facility is setting standards for future development of floating arrays in Brazil.
Teralight complete Israel’s largest floating PV project
Teralight has completed Israel’s largest floating PV project, deploying 31 MW of capacity on two water reservoirs in the northern part of the country, at an estimated project cost of $33.8 million.
Hybrid hydro-PV systems increase producer profits by up to 18-21% in sub-Saharan Africa
A team of researchers from Norway analyzed a case study of a cascade hydropower system hybridized with both floating and ground mounted PV under sub-Saharan African market conditions. It found that hybrid systems can reduce seasonal variability in renewable energy generation and increase annual producer profits under both PPA and spot market schemes.
Southeast Asia has technical potential to deploy over 1 TW of floating PV
A group of researchers from the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory assessed the potential for floating PV (FPV) plants at reservoirs and natural waterbodies in 10 Southeast Asian countries. It found that the overall FPV technical potential for the region ranges from 477 GW to 1,046 GW.
Indian hydropower company secures 90 MW of floating PV for $0.046/kWh
SJVN Green Energy has secured 90 MW of floating solar capacity in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh with a bid of INR 3.79 ($0.046)/kWh.
Indian developer wins tender to deploy 80 MW of floating PV for $0.047/kWh
Hinduja Renewables has won an 80 MW tender for the second phase of a 600 MW floating solar project, with a tariff of INR 3.89 ($0.047)/kWh.
Floating PV for waterparks
Prefabricated floating solar PV provider Sunlit Sea, based in Norway, has provided its floaters for a 60 kW floating array installed at a waterpark in Germany.
