Solar Power and Hydropower: What They Have in Common

What Do the Sun and Water Have in Common?

The answer is floating photovoltaics (FPV): a technology in which solar panels are mounted on floating platforms.

Floating photovoltaic systems offer several advantages.

Unlike conventional solar power plants, which require substantial land areas, FPV systems can make productive use of otherwise unused lakes, reservoirs, and ponds. Installing them on artificial water bodies can also facilitate integration with existing power plants and create operational synergies.

These systems may also improve energy generation efficiency. Water cools the panels, enhancing their performance. Research cited in the original article suggests that floating solar panels generate electricity 11% more efficiently than land-based panels.

By limiting the sunlight reaching the water's surface, floating panels also reduce evaporation. At hydropower reservoirs, this can help retain water for electricity generation, while installations on industrial lakes can conserve water for agricultural use.

Floating photovoltaic systems combine electricity production with an unusual and visually striking modern design.