World's Largest Floating Solar Farms - 2.2GWp

The Singapore's Sunseap Group is building the 2.2 gigawatt-peak solar farm off the coast of Indonesia worth $2 billion. It accounts to be the world's largest floating solar farm and energy storage system.

The project will be established in the Indonesian city of Batam. The plan is forecasts to double Batam's renewable power generation capacity as per the memorandum of understanding signed by Sunseap, Batam Indonesia free zone authority, Badan Pengusahaan Batam.

Features of World's Largest Floating Solar Farms

The important features of the planned floating solar farms are:

1. The floating solar panels will be located on the Duriankang Reservoir in Batam Island
2. The total span of the floating solar panels is around 6 square mile
3. The total capacity of the floating solar panels will be 2.2 GWp ( gigawatt-peak)
4. The construction will start in 2022 with an expected completion time of 2 years as per Sunseap.
5. The majority of the energy will be consumed by Batam and some are planned to export to Singapore through subsea cable.

What are Floating Solar Farms?

Floating solar farms are solar power systems deployed on pontoon-type floats with an anchoring and mooring system holding the platform in place. Floating Solar Farms is also known as Floating Solar Array, Floating Solar Systems or Floatovoltaics.

All the features are similar to land based solar system, expect that they are located over a water body. Most of the floating solar farms are constructed over man-made reservoirs. A common floating solar farm have the following arrangement.

Basic Components of Floating Solar Unit
Image Credits: greensarawak.com

What is Passive Cooling of Floating Solar Panels? 

Solar cell performs will less efficiency, when they are exposed to higher temperature. Higher the temperature, the output voltage drops and affects efficiency. This is due to active cooling. Which is observed in solar panels placed in roof tops or grounds.

We need passive cooling, that is obtained by solar panels placed over water. During day time, the water body takes some heat and some water takes it and evaporates, which then cools down the water. Compared to metals and sand, the water has the capability to hold large amount of heat energy before it can raise its temperature ( high specific heat capacity).

So, bigger the body, higher is the resistance to the temperature change. As water is in close proximity with the solar panel, temperature is regulated in a better way compared to solar panels placed in roof tops and deserts.

Working Principle of Floating Solar Panels

Advantages of Floating Solar Farms

Other than being a larger source of renewable energy, floating solar have some distinct advantages:

1. Covers 50% of the reservoir surface and prevent sunlight exposure of water and induced evaporation
2. No land is consumed for solar panels. Reservoirs of large hydraulic projects provide calm and habitat free environment for solar energy yield.
3. Improved energy yield due to the cooling effects of water and decreased presence of dust.
4. The algae population can be controlled and reduced by blocking sun light to the water body. The floating solar farm can offer a substantial blocking of sun lights to the waters.
5. Increase Solar Cell efficiency through passive cooling.

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