WCA July 2014

India

Insight

Floating solar power

renewable energy and is expected to generate around 12kW of power by December. Since the government’s commitment to a huge increase in solar power generation capacity, prices of barren land earmarked for solar power projects have increased by 20-30 per cent. This has, in turn, increased solar power prices. To generate 1MW of solar power on land requires about four acres of space. Panels installed on floating platforms require an area of around 20 per cent less. It is proposed that the surface of the water body can be rented out by its owner for a minimal fee, because such water surfaces can be put to no other use. “The ecology of the water body is not likely to be affected much and it will also reduce evaporation, thus helping preserve water levels during extreme summer,” said SP Gon Choudhury, chairman of the Renewable Research College. “Such floating solar stations would generate more energy as research has shown that if the panels stay cooler, they generate more energy, up by 16 per cent. Each station would require around 3,000 square feet of space to generate 20kW of power. There are many water bodies that could be used for this.”

A COLLEGE in Kolkata has developed a system of generating electricity from anchored floating solar panels, exploiting the space available on the surface of ponds, lakes, reservoirs and dams. An initial project is being tested on a lake outside Kolkata city. The project has been funded by the ministry of new and

❍ Floating panels provide one answer to providing solar power

44

www.read-wca.com

Wire & Cable ASIA – July/August 2014