Floating Solar Panels Could Meet Entire Cities' Power Needs, Study Says
Are floating solar panels the future of energy generation? Current solar power methods are mostly spread out over land, but stationing solar arrays over water, (floatovoltaics as they're called) could help generate renewable energy.
The only thing separating floatovoltaics from land-based solar arrays is that they're not... well, on land. Instead, the solar panels in this case are situated on a raft. For now, such water-based solar arrays are not the primary mode of harnessing solar power. But a new study in the journal Nature Sustainability paints a grand picture of how much cities could benefit from floatovoltaics.
Maximising the potential of solar power
According to researchers, 6,256 cities across 124 countries could benefit from solar panels installed on nearby water reservoirs to meet ALL of their energy demands. For this, they would need to cover about 30% of the water's surface with solar rafts.
To reach this conclusion, researchers analysed 114,555 reservoirs around the world using various databases and modelling. Think that's all? Turns out, these floating rafts of solar arrays would also block sunlight from reaching the water, thereby preventing evaporation. In turn, this would result in water conservation - with the potential to save as much water needed by 300 million people annually (that's about 106 cubic kilometres per year, according to an estimate by The Verge).
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In fact, such floatovoltaics can solve a lot of problems that currently plague hydroelectricity generation and solar panels both. For the former, droughts are becoming a big issue due to climate changes. If water is conserved, this can be avoided. Heatwaves also damage the efficiency of solar panels, but water can help keep solar panels cool.
Together, hydroelectric dams and solar array rafts could work together to meet electricity needs of cities. Researchers found that the US has more suitable reservoirs for this purpose, followed by China and Brazil.
Also read:?ESA's Space-Based Solar Power Stations Could Fulfil Earth's Energy Needs In Future
What do you think about this novel way to maximise the potential of solar power? Let us know in the comments below.?For more in the world of?technology?and?science, keep reading?Indiatimes.com.
