Could solar farms float on the ocean?
Recommended for Middle Grades
Would it be possible for solar farms to float on the ocean?
Indonesia is made of more than ten thousand individual islands. According to state officials, it is extremely difficult to provide energy to the entire nation.
In addition, the people who don’t have electricity are living on remote islands. So in this situation, it’s hard to connect a cable to them and utilise other solutions such as wind turbines.
Energy from the Sun is one possibility for supplying the islands with their energy needs.
What is a solar farm?
A solar farm is a group of panels that collect energy from the sun, turn it into electricity.
Key facts!
- According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), solar energy is becoming the most cost-effective choice for the construction of new electrical power plants.
- However, solar farms require a significant amount of land.
- As such this land cannot be used for other purposes, such as housing, farming, or commerce.
- Thus, scientists and engineers are working on ways to deploy solar panels on the surface of the water.
- Here, the purpose is to deliver power to people living on the land in the surrounding area.
- Scientists express that floating solar is beneficial because it can be put on top of the water.
- Also, if there is additional demand, one can install additional solar panels.
- Floating solar panels are already in operation at a number of locations across the world.
- However, these installations are located on lakes rather than in oceans.
- The reason for this is that waves have the potential to easily damage and submerge solar panels.
- However, the discovery of innovative techniques now allows one to maintain solar panels operational despite the presence of waves.
- Companies such as SolarDuck, and Ocean Sun are exploring the possibility of solar farms on the ocean.
- If they could utilise the ocean surface in Indonesia, then they will be able to do so.
- Also, solar farms may even be located very far out at sea, where they could act as charging stations for electric ships.
- Therefore, this would be a very environmentally friendly solution.
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Ocean Sun gives us a tour of their floating solar farm.
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