Any PV plant design is site dependent, but it is more so the case with FPV, as the requirements, not just regulatory but on the ‘ground’, also change quite a bit from country to country. FPV is a case of ‘one size does not fit all,’ as shown by Sungrow’s FPV Country Manager, Julia Wang in her presentation at the TaiyangNews Advanced Solar Module Applications conference. ( watch the presentation here)

A 150 MW floating project on mine water in Huainan, situated in Anhui province of China, stands out for its significant social impact. Anhui province is home to some of the world’s largest FPV installations to date, with project capacities ranging from 20 MW to 200MW, Wang noted. Former underground coal miners from the region have transitioned to roles such as solar panel assemblers and maintenance crew members, also earning better wages in the process. Sungrow’s 192 MW project in Indonesia is not just the world’s largest FPV project situated at a hydropower plant, but it was also one of the most challenging undertakings. The water at this site plunges to depths of around 100 meters, with water level variations approaching 20 meters, which represent significant challenges for the mooring and anchoring system. Covering 3 to 4% of water surfaces at larger hydro power plants with FPV can potentially double the installed capacity, emphasized Wang. It also enables more strategic water resource management, utilizing solar power during daylight hours and hydro power after sunset. This hybrid plant approach can help stabilize output, offer flexibility services and make better use of existing electrical infrastructure.

Another Sungrow FPV project, a 10.8 MW system in Israel was labeled by Wang as “amphibious,” as the reservoir remains dry for the most part, leaving the floating system grounded. The reservoir collects water only when it rains sufficiently, which may make the system float. A bottom slope of no more than 10°is a crucial parameter for such projects, Wang said (see Smart Floating Solar Boosts Efficiency) .

In Singapore, a 60 MW project holds the distinction of being the world’s largest FPV endeavor on drinking water. Designed to enhance water quality as well as support local flora and fauna, key considerations included spacing the solar panels adequately to promote air flow and ensuring sufficient sunlight penetrates to benefit aquatic life. The unique challenge for a 13 MW Selangor project in Malaysia, situated on a sand mining lake, was its acidic water with a pH of 3. Addressing potential corrosion issues, Sungrow opted for plastic solar module brackets and polymer mooring ropes. Lastly, a massive 320 MW project in Shandong underscores the versatility of floating solar, as it demonstrates that FPV isn’t limited to small bodies of water but can be ambitiously deployed on a grand scale.

The text is an excerpt from the TaiyangNews Floating PV 2024 Report, which can be downloaded for free here.