The capacity of photovoltaic solar energy installed worldwide continues to grow and 480GW has already been reached worldwide . In addition, as we have already pointed out in other articles, energy production costs from solar panels have already fallen by 76% lower than in 2009. According to DNV-GL, it expects that photovoltaics will produce , in 2050, 40% of the energy consumed on the planet.
Despite the incredible evolution of photovoltaic solar panels in recent years, there are still geographical limits. The energy consumption continues to grow and the roofs or firm ground may not be enough for much of the energy produced to be of photovoltaic solar origin . Therefore, they are beginning to look for solutions to this problem. One of the solutions that have already begun to be carried out is floating photovoltaics (installing solar plants on seas, lakes, reservoirs …).
Floating photovoltaics is starting to grow dramatically and there is already more than 1GW installed worldwide (the vast majority is in China). This amount falls short for what may be in the future and that floating photovoltaics can be a solution to one of the limits of photovoltaics, space.
According to some experts, ‘although the installation costs are higher at sea than conventional solar panels installed on land, once installed, the performance of the solar panel increases due to the cooling effect. So the average generation cost by Kwh they will be lower . ‘
Floating photovoltaics is proposed as a solution to the ‘intrusion’ of solar plants in agricultural spaces . Despite the incredible possibilities some obstacles such as corrosion and storm damage have been found. The impact within the marine ecosystem can also be a problem for floating photovoltaic panels.
At the moment, solar plants in freshwater begin to gain strength and the GW already installed is joined by those already in the process of design or execution. On the other hand, the marine floating photovoltaic must wait for its opportunity since the force of the waves and the corrosion of salt water are a great impediment for the installation of solar panels on the high seas.
