What is the output of solar panels floating on water?
By generating solar power through floating panels on lakes, we can preserve the environment. Scientists are now evaluating the extent to which certain countries can meet their electricity requirements using floating solar panels on lakes. However, the potential impact on ecosystems must first be considered.
In a theoretical study, a research team in the journal "Nature Water" estimates that some countries could nearly fulfill their electricity demands with solar panels on lakes. These include Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, and Rwanda, where approximately 16% of electricity demands could be achieved.
A positive outcome: If conventional energy sources are replaced, greenhouse gas emissions and the acceleration of human-caused climate change could be reduced. Nevertheless, the potential effects of floating installations on freshwater ecosystems are still largely unknown. Therefore, environmental impact assessments are necessary first, particularly for natural lakes.
A considerable portion of the electricity demand could be met in countries such as Bolivia (87%) and Tonga (92%) with floating panels on lakes. In Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and Central Asia, it would be between 40 and 70%. In northern Europe, values are lower: for example, Finland has a 17% potential, while Denmark has a 7% potential.
The team led by Iestyn Woolway from Bangor University in Menai Bridge, Wales, calculated the possible output of floating photovoltaic systems, considering regional climate data for almost 68,000 natural lakes and artificial bodies of water worldwide. Only lakes not more than ten kilometers from a population center, not in a protected area, not drying out, and not frozen for more than six months a year were considered. The calculation was based on a coverage of 10% of the surface area with solar panels but no more than 30 square kilometers per lake.
The output varied depending on altitude, latitude, and season. The researchers estimate a total of around 1300 terawatt-hours (TWh) per year for the considered lakes - about four times the annual electricity consumption of Great Britain.
Benefits of floating solar panels
Floating photovoltaic systems have several advantages over land-based solar panels, according to the researchers. Land usage would remain for other purposes, and the modules would be cooled by water, increasing efficiency. Additionally, less water could evaporate from the lakes. While the environmental and natural effects of floating panels on lakes are still uncertain, the potential for energy generation from these systems is clear, so further research is needed to ensure safe implementation.
Woolway remarked, "We still don't fully understand how floating panels could affect a natural lake's ecosystem under various conditions and locations. However, the potential for energy generation from floating photovoltaic systems is evident, so we need to commence this research to ensure the safe implementation of this technology."
Read also:
- To mitigate the impacts of climate change, promoting the use of renewable energy sources like photovoltaics on rivers and lakes for sustainability is crucial.
- Incorporating photovoltaics into education curriculums can help foster understanding of the importance of sustainability and the potential role of floating solar panels in protecting ecosystems.
- To ensure the sustainable deployment of floating solar panels, it's essential to conduct thorough environmental impact assessments, considering the effects on rivers, lakes, and their respective ecosystems.
