January 9, 2020 | By RGR Marketing Blog

Floating PV Panels Sound Like a Great Idea, But Are They?

Buy Solar LeadsIf there’s one thing a solar system needs to operate at peak efficiency, it’s uncompromised exposure to the sun. Last year, Oceans of Energy, a Dutch company, announced its plans to design, build, and operate a solar farm in an area where there’s literally nothing standing in the way between the sun and the solar panels. We’re talking about the middle of the sea off the coast of Scheveningen, the Netherlands.

They’re not the only ones thinking this way, either. In June, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority started attracting consultants to study, develop, and construct floating solar plants in the Arabian Gulf. Last month, a Belgian consortium including Dredging, Environmental and Marine Engineering (DEME), Tractebel, Jan De Nul Group, Soltech and Ghent University announced its plans to build their own floating solar farm, in the middle of the North Sea. There are other offshore solar farms also in the works by groups in Singapore and the Maldives.

With floating PV panels becoming more and more interesting to developers, what does this mean for your solar installation business?

Why Offshore Solar Is Gaining in Popularity

There are several key factors that are causing solar developers to look offshore for future solar installations. For starters, land is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to acquire, and inland solar arrays require a lot of real estate. Offshore solar farms eliminate this hurdle from the equation. Hosting solar farms offshore is also expected to help meet the demanding needs of citywide renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions targets, many of the largest of which are conveniently located close to the shoreline.

Another proposed benefit of having marine solar farms is that the water will help keep the systems cool, which is essential for maximizing performance and efficiency. Just how much more energy these systems will yield, however, remains to be seen.

Will Floating PV Farms Replace Inland Solar Systems?

The truth is, floating solar farms are still in their infancy. There remains a lot of research and development that needs to be performed to determine the benefits versus the risks. Plus, while developers won’t have to deal with high land prices, they will have to cope with higher installation costs. It is anticipated that a floating solar farm will cost as much as 15 percent more than an inland solar installation.

Currently, inland solar installers don’t have anything to worry about. There’s still too much uncertainty surrounding the cost and reliability of offshore solar panels to cause concern, but the potential for offshore developments is certainly something installers will want to keep their eyes on.

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Get the leads your solar business needs to keep its sales funnel filled. Contact RGR Marketing today to find out how our leads can make a difference in your sales.

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