Floating Solar

Floating solar or floating photovoltaics (FPV), sometimes called floatovoltaics, are solar panels mounted on a buoyant structure that floats on a body of water, typically a reservoir or a lake such as drinking water reservoirs, quarry lakes, irrigation canals or remediation and tailing ponds. Floating solar is quickly growing across the United States. Floating solar systems have advantages over photovoltaics (PV) on land. Water surfaces may be less expensive than the cost of land, and there are fewer rules and regulations for structures built on bodies of water not used for recreation.

Floating solar systems or arrays can be unobtrusive because they are hidden from public view, especially when located on private reservoir lands. Water-based solar systems will often have higher efficiencies than solar panels on land because water cools the panels, which helps increase energy efficiency. Since floating solar panels provide shade to the water and act like a lid, they reduce water evaporation to almost zero; they benefit geographic areas that are prone to drought. Often floating solar systems contain special coating to prevent rust and corrosion, providing high life expectancy.

Locations for Floating Solar

Choosing the right location for floating solar panels is crucial to ensure their efficiency and effectiveness. Ideal locations for floating solar include static freshwater bodies with few waves such as man-made ponds and reservoirs, or larger freshwater bodies with small to medium waves. Lakes made by hydroelectric dams and near-shore seawater such as harbors, estuaries, and ports with smaller-sized waves are also ideal for floating solar.

Floating solar platforms can be used to cut operating costs for onsite energy consumption. Customizable solar arrays can be mounted on large platforms to deliver power for other uses. For example, wastewater lagoons can derive enough power from solar on their islands to run their aerators, usually the most costly of their operating expenses.

Embracing floating solar technology not only contributes to a sustainable power sector but also showcases our commitment to combating climate change. With ongoing innovations and continual improvements, these floating solar panels will undoubtedly play a vital role in mastering energy efficiency and securing a cleaner and brighter future.

Floating Solar Benefits

Utilizes Unused
Water Space

Enhanced
Efficiency

Reduces Water
Evaporation

Scalable for Large Electricity Sources

Sustainable

New Jersey and New York Floating Solar Incentives

New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities and NYSERDA’s NY-Sun Solar Program offer incentives that help reduce costs related to floating solar projects. An Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is applicable as a federal tax credit through a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. Organizations can claim both State incentives and tax credits towards the cost of a floating solar project. Depending on precisely which incentives, they may apply in a different order. There are a variety of floating solar incentives: those offered by the federal government, those offered by the New Jersey or New York government, and those offered by local utility companies, to name a few. Organizations can claim both rebates and tax credits towards the cost of the floating solar project.

Floating Solar Systems

Floating solar systems have many similarities with traditional ground-mounted solar systems, but also some differences, especially regarding anchoring, the flotation system, and the evacuation of energy from the plant. Floating PV solar modules are generally the same as those installed on land and are usually bifacial since this type, being dual-glass, provides better protection against humidity and corrosion. As for the electrical system, barge-type structures with high buoyancy are developed, which are used both for inverters and even for transformers. The same is true for cables, where major innovative solutions are being developed for floating solutions.

Floating Solar Key Components:

Solar Panels

The solar PV panels or modules are central to floating solar farms, which house multiple solar cells capable of transforming sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.

Floating Platforms

Solar panels are attached to floating, buoyant structures or platforms to ensure the solar systems float on top of the surface of the water.

Anchoring System

The anchoring secures the floating platforms, preventing any wind or water drift, while maximizing stability and positioning towards the sun.

Solar Inverters

The electrical device that converts direct current (DC) electricity, which is what a solar panel generates, to alternating current (AC) electricity, which the electrical grid uses.

Electrical Infrastructure

The AC electricity from the inverters is conveyed through electrical cables to a substation or distribution node, ready for integration into the electrical grid for wider dissemination or allocated for local consumption.

Floating solar development and services

Floating solar is a clean source of renewable energy that helps decrease the emission of greenhouse gas emissions and all of the other pollutants that they put in the atmosphere, leaving a positive impact on the environment as well as human health. Core Development Group has experience with a wide range of energy technology solutions for over a decade, with the deployment of renewable energy across the United States, which is why we are leading the industry in developing the implementation of various floating solar energy installations.

With experience and insights into floating solar technology, Core Development Group provides full, end-to-end Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) services for the most stable and functional floating solar systems available in the market—which means a smarter energy investment for any business looking to deploy renewable energy. Talk to us for more information on floating solar.