Floating solar farms hold great potential to help in the battle against climate change, yet there are only about 3GW around the world at the moment – with most of that being inland. If panels were deployed on inland human-made waters alone, it could add around four terawatts of power capacity worldwide. And while it’s seen as one of the energy transitions hottest emerging technologies, growth is sluggish.
Part of the reason could be the fact that there is no recommended practice for the industry yet, which is causing a roadblock to the sector’s growth. To fix this, global energy giants have teamed up to form a floating solar joint industry partnership (JIP) set up by technical advisory group DNV GL. Their goal is to help push the fast-emerging sector forward to reach its ‘terawatt-scale’ potential.
All members of the Floating Solar JIP consortium have extensive experience in the floating solar and related industries. Among the fourteen companies involved are BayWa r.e, Statkraft, EDP, Equinor, and EDF. With such big-name businesses joining the JIP, it’s clear that floating solar is regarded as a worthy technology for deployment.
Prajeev Rasiah, Executive Vice President for DNV GL’s Energy business in Northern Europe, Middle East, and Africa, said:
Floating solar is a rapidly expanding technology with huge potential to help nations decarbonize, and one that we have been intimately involved with for many years. Drawing on our expertise in solar energy, floating wind, offshore platforms, Oil & Gas and Maritime technologies, and industry knowledge, we have directly contributed to more than 1GW of floating solar projects, at different development stages. We are excited to work with so many committed industry leaders to create a recommended practice that will provide clear guidelines and requirements for safe, performing and long-lived floating solar projects.
Lakes and reservoirs worldwide are housing floating solar farms more and more – and there is much talk about deployments in oceans with ‘high wave’ systems that can handle operating out at sea. It’s a promising renewable energy technology that involves solar panels being installed on floating structures and set up on the surface of suitable bodies of water. It makes green energy production possible in places where there’s a shortage of land for large photovoltaic plants.
DNV GL is confident that regulators, investors, and stakeholders will have more confidence to plan projects and enforce relevant requirements if there is a set of universal guidelines for the industry.
Toni Weigl, Project Manager at BayWa r.e, said:
As currently the largest floating PV developer in Europe, BayWa r.e. is happy to be part of this consortium to develop this important guideline for the floating PV industry. We think establishing uniform high standards for Floating PV power plants will help to mature and enhance the floating PV industry. Therefore, we are excited to bring in our extensive knowledge from the successfully realized Floating PV projects.
The first verified recommended practice is expected to be ready by Q1 2021. It will provide a commonly recognized standard based on a list of technical requirements for developing reliable, safe, and sustainable floating solar projects. It will focus on the following key topics: mooring & anchoring systems, floating structures, site conditions assessment, energy yield forecast, and permitting and environmental impact. It will not be limited to any specific floating solar technology so that the guidelines can be applied to all floating solar projects.
