FAQ

The fisrst reason is a land scarcity avoiding. Traditionally solar panels occupy a lot of valuable land space. The second reason is higher solar panel efficiency due to water cooling effect. Solar cell performance decreases with increasing temperature. The operating temperature plays a key role in the photovoltaic conversion process. Both the electrical efficiency and the power output of a solar panel depend linearly on the operating temperature. Some studies show that the relative annual average output energy is about 12.96% higher at sea compared with land. However, in some months, this relative output energy increases up to 18% higher energy yield at seaevision (source)(https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pip.3276).

Typically, floating solar power plants are 30-50% more expansive than ground-based. In some cases, customers do not have available land space for solar panels, but they have access to the water, near-shore locaitons and to be able to generate a clean energy, more expensive solution can be the option.

The floating solar power plant is not dangerouse for fish, recent research was performed by Buro Bakker/ATKB.(https://www.at-kb.nl/buro-bakker) However, multi-year research is required to establish clear results (source)(https://www.offshore-energy.biz/first-insights-into-floating-solar-show-no-adverse-environmental-impacts/#:~:text=Biodiversity%20and%20ecology&text=Bio%20huts%20made%20by%20Ecocean,negative%20effects%20have%20been%20seen.).

HelioRec is installing floating solar power plants on unused or shallow water and it does not disturb maritime activities.

The floating solar market is growing exponentially (installed in 2004 - 10MWp and in 2021 – 1.6GWp) and it opens enormous market opportunities and advantages for the environment and society. It is one of the fastest growing sector with CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 33.7% (source (https://www.globenewswire.com/fr/news-release/2022/02/24/2391102/0/en/Global-Floating-Solar-Panels-Market-to-Reach-4-8-Thousand-MW-by-the-Year-2026.html)and source)(https://www.woodmac.com/news/opinion/why-floating-solar-has-an-important-role-to-play-in-the-energy-transition/).