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<\/p>\nSolar PV is rapidly expanding its footprint. Panels are coming to more rooftops, industrial parks, carports and even backpacks. It\u2019s also, increasingly, being installed on top of water.<\/p>\n
Kyocera Corporation and Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation announced this week that Kyocera TCL Solar, a joint venture between the two companies, will develop a 13.4-megawatt floating solar power plant in Japan\u2019s Yamakura Dam reservoir near Tokyo. The plant will become the largest floating solar installation in the world.<\/p>\n
The project, made up of 50,000 modules, will generate 15,635 megawatt-hours of electricity per year, which is roughly enough to power 4,700 households. Century Tokyo Leasing will provide the project financing and Kyocera Group will supply the solar modules and related equipment in addition to construction, operation and maintenance.The modules will be installed on patented Hydrelio floating platforms manufactured by the French company Ciel et Terre.Kyocera aims to bring the plant on-line in March 2016, after negotiating contracts with Tokyo Electric Power Company and others.<\/p>\n
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Japan is an obvious choice for floating PV because space on land is limited, and there are already lots of inland waterways created for rice agriculture and rainwater control that could be used for solar. Japan also has some of the highest feed-in tariffs in the world. The Japanese government introduced the renewable energy incentives in July 2012 following the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Solar parks on water are also coming to the United States.<\/p>\n
Installation is also quick and relatively inexpensive, said Eva Pauly, international business manager for Ciel et Terre , because there\u2019s no need for excavation or a foundation. The floatation structure doesn’t need heavy-duty equipment for assembly. Conventional framed solar panels and inverters are then installed on top.<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s not usually a good idea to mix electricity and water, the floating systems are proven to be safe. None of the electrical equipment comes in direct contact with water. Every connection between the panels is completely insulated, and the system uses waterproof DC marine cables that have been used for decades in offshore and water treatment work.<\/p>\n
The systems aren\u2019t designed for rough, salty offshore conditions, but are able to withstand typhoons and waves over 3 feet high. They\u2019re specifically designed for lakes, reservoirs and other inland water bodies that are close to the grid connection and to areas where the most electricity is consumed.<\/p>\n
Floating PV arrays also help to save gallons of water by reducing evaporation and perform more efficiently than ground-mounted systems, thanks to natural cooling from the water. According to Pauly, water agencies are particularly interested in floating PV because many of them have policies to reduce greenhouse gases and a big interest in conserving water, particularly in places like California where there are frequent and severe droughts.<\/p>\n
Ciel et Terre isn\u2019t the only company in the floating PV game. For instance, the Australian firm Sunengy<\/span><\/a> has completed a pilot plant with its floating solar collectors in India, and Global Environmental Infrastructure Technology Solutions is developing a floating solar project in Adams County<\/span><\/a>, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n These projects are starting to gain traction because land is at a premium in many countries, or if it\u2019s available, it\u2019s very far away from the load source. Rooftops are also an option, but those solar projects are mostly small-scale, and some roof designs can\u2019t support solar at all.<\/p>\n Floating solar is still more expensive, in general, than ground-mounted PV. Kyocera did not release information about how much the 13.4-megawatt project would cost.<\/p>\n But with three years of testing under its belt, Ciel et Terre has been able to industrialize its floatation technology and prove that it\u2019s bankable. The easy installation process, efficiency benefits and localized manufacturing in France and Japan help to shave costs off of the company\u2019s projects. In Japan, where civil work is expensive because of the need to build earthquake-proof foundations, floating solar is more competitive than ground-mounted systems, said Pauly.<\/p>\n Source: http:\/\/www.greentechmedia.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Solar PV is rapidly expanding its footprint. Panels are coming to more rooftops, industrial parks, carports and even backpacks. It\u2019s also, increasingly, being installed on top of water. Kyocera Corporation and Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation announced this week that Kyocera … Continue reading