Some of the key drawbacks include: Initial Cost: Installing floating solar panels can be expensive compared to ground-based solar systems due to the specific materials and floating structures required. Maintenance and access: Maintenance of floating solar panels can be more complicated than that of terrestrial systems.
Floating solar panels offer significant benefits in power generation and water conservation but also present environmental challenges. One concern is their potential impact on water quality and aquatic life, as they might reduce oxygen levels in water bodies, potentially affecting fish populations.
Despite their advancements, floating solar panels face challenges like the need for materials that withstand aquatic environments and complex underwater cabling. LESSO Solar's expected global capacity expansion to over 15 GW for solar panels and 6 GW for solar cells by 2023 highlights the sector's growth.
Such floating infrastructures are susceptible to a range of environmental risks that could jeopardize the long-term performance of these solar farms. Fluctuations in water levels, heavy storms, earthquakes, and tsunamis are some of these potential risks.
Floating solar photovoltaics refers to the installation of PV panels on a floating structure, which is anchored to the bottom and/or the sides of a water body for stability. Compared to land-based systems, installing solar panels on a floating structure requires additional components and structural modifications.
Water conditions: Water quality and the presence of algae and other aquatic organisms can influence the operation and efficiency of floating solar plants. The world's largest floating solar plant is located in China, in the city of Huainan, Anhui province.