New energy track adds' potential stocks'! Floating photovoltaic (FPV) power generation, in layman's terms, is the process of floating solar panels on the water surface like "floating duckweed" to generate electricity without occupying valuable land and with high efficiency. It has become an important direction for global energy transformation, and today we will explain its core secrets in one go.
First, understand the core definition: FPV, also known as Floating Photovoltaic, is a new clean energy technology that installs a photovoltaic power generation system as a whole on a floating carrier on the water surface, converts solar energy into electricity, and then transmits it to the grid through supporting equipment. Unlike traditional ground photovoltaics, its core advantage is "obtaining electricity from water and not competing with farmers for land".
1. The core structure of floating photovoltaic systems, and all four components are indispensable.
The seemingly simple "water-based photovoltaic panel" is actually a product of multi-technology integration. The entire system is mainly composed of four core components, each of which plays a key role in ensuring the stable operation of the system for more than 25 years.
Photovoltaic modules: The core power generation components prioritize the use of double glass double-sided power generation modules, which have waterproof, anti-fog, and corrosion-resistant characteristics. The power generation efficiency is 2% to 3% higher than ordinary land modules, and can adapt to humid and foggy water environments, avoiding long-term immersion damage.
Floating mounting systems: "floating foundation", the mainstream is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material, which is lightweight, corrosion resistant and anti-aging. A single floating body can bear hundreds of kilograms. The modular design is convenient for assembly and splicing, and can flexibly adjust the scale according to the size of the water area.
Anchor system: The "stabilizer" of the system is fixed to the floating mounting systems through components such as steel cables, ground anchors, and tension regulators, which can resist the impact of wind, waves, and water currents. Even if the water level changes seasonally, it can ensure that the platform does not drift or overturn, adapting to different water depths and hydrological conditions.
Electrical systems: the "hub" of power transmission, including inverters, combiner boxes, underwater cables, etc., usually integrated on dedicated floating platforms, which can reduce cable losses, avoid electrical equipment from being soaked in water, and facilitate later operation and maintenance.
2. Why can FPV floating photovoltaic systems rise rapidly due to its core advantages?
Compared to traditional ground and rooftop photovoltaic systems, FPV systems have five outstanding advantages with their unique "water layout", perfectly meeting the needs of modern energy development and becoming a key lever for breaking resource constraints.
A land saving tool to solve the land dilemma: It does not require the occupation of valuable land resources such as arable land, forest land, and construction land. It can fully utilize idle water bodies such as reservoirs, lakes, coal mining subsidence areas, and sewage treatment plant water tanks, especially suitable for densely populated and land scarce eastern regions and European countries, achieving the transformation of "idle water bodies into energy treasure houses".
Higher power generation efficiency and more stable production capacity: Water bodies have a natural cooling effect, which can reduce the temperature of photovoltaic modules by 3 to 5 ℃. For every 1 ℃ decrease in the temperature of photovoltaic modules, the power generation efficiency can increase by about 1%, which is 5% to 10% higher than ground photovoltaic systems. With the same installed capacity, the annual power generation can increase by 600 to 1000 hours/megawatt.
Dual use of water, achieving dual benefits: it can be deeply integrated with aquaculture to form a "fish light complementary" model - water power generation and underwater fish farming. It can also cover the surface of the reservoir, reducing water surface evaporation (up to 40%), especially suitable for arid areas, achieving a win-win situation of ecological and economic benefits.
Eco friendly and supportive of environmental governance: Photovoltaic panels covering the water surface can reduce direct sunlight, inhibit algae growth in the water, lower the risk of eutrophication, and improve water quality. At the same time, it does not damage surface vegetation, does not affect soil structure, and can achieve coordinated development of "ecological restoration+ clean energy" in areas such as coal mining subsidence.
Flexible deployment, short construction period: Modular design does not require complex land leveling and foundation construction processes, and the difficulty of water operations is controllable. The construction period is about 30% shorter than that of ground photovoltaic systems, and the installed capacity can be flexibly adjusted according to electricity demand, quickly responding to the peak shaving needs of the power grid.
3. Can FPV floating photovoltaic systems be built anywhere?
With the continuous maturity of technology, the application scenarios of FPVs are continuously expanding, forming a development pattern of "inland dominance and ocean acceleration". As long as it is a suitable water area, "water power generation" can be achieved, mainly divided into four major scenarios.
Inland reservoirs/lakes: currently the most mainstream application scenario, with mature technology and controllable costs. For example, large-scale floating photovoltaic projects in Huainan, Anhui, Huzhou, Zhejiang, Dagang, Tianjin and other places in China rely on reservoir construction, with installed capacity reaching tens or even hundreds of megawatts.
Abandoned water area: It can effectively activate abandoned water areas such as coal mining subsidence areas, mine tailings ponds, industrial water reservoirs, and sewage treatment plant water tanks, achieving the goal of "turning waste into treasure". Among them, the Huainan coal mining subsidence area in Anhui Province has built a global large-scale floating photovoltaic cluster, becoming a benchmark for ecological restoration.
Aquaculture zones: The "fish light complementary" model is widely promoted in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong and other places in China. Photovoltaic panels provide shade protection for fish and shrimp, reducing high temperature stress. At the same time, power generation income can compensate for aquaculture costs, achieving "two incomes per acre of water" and helping rural revitalization.
For example, the fishery photovoltaic complementary project in Yancheng, Jiangsu not only ensures the production of aquaculture, but also achieves clean energy output, becoming a model for the integration of agriculture and new energy.
Marine waters: emerging application scenarios, mainly concentrated in nearshore shallow waters, bays and other areas, with higher technical difficulty than inland waters, requiring coping with challenges such as high salt spray, strong winds and waves, and tidal changes. At present, pilot projects have been launched in Shandong, Fujian, Guangdong and other places in China. With breakthroughs in anti-corrosion and wind wave resistant technologies, ocean floating photovoltaic systems are expected to become an important growth point for the future FPV industry, further tapping into the potential of ocean energy.
4. What are the technical challenges and difficulties of FPV floating photovoltaic systems?
Despite the outstanding advantages and wide applications of FPVs, their development still faces four core technological challenges due to the special nature of aquatic environments, which are also the focus of continuous industry research and development.
Wind wave resistance and stability challenges: Inland lakes and coastal waters are vulnerable to wind waves, currents and tides. If the floating platform and anchor system are not properly designed, they are prone to drift, overturn or component damage. Especially in extreme weather such as typhoons and rainstorms, the requirements for system stability are extremely high.
Corrosion and durability challenges: The water surface environment is humid and prone to salt spray (in marine waters), and photovoltaic modules, floating bodies, electrical equipment, and cables are exposed to water vapor for a long time, which can cause corrosion and aging, affecting the service life of the system. Therefore, specialized anti-corrosion materials and protective processes need to be used, increasing the initial investment.
Difficulty and cost challenges in operation and maintenance: The working space on the water surface is limited, and it is greatly affected by changes in water level and weather. The difficulty of cleaning photovoltaic modules, equipment maintenance, and troubleshooting in the later stage is higher than that of ground photovoltaic systems. Operation and maintenance personnel need to have professional water operation capabilities, which further increases the cost of operation and maintenance.
Ecological adaptability challenge: The photovoltaic panels of large-scale FPV projects cover the water surface. If not properly arranged, it may affect water illumination and oxygen exchange, thereby affecting the survival of aquatic organisms. At the same time, the construction process may damage the ecological environment around the water area, and ecological assessment and protective design need to be done well.
5. The development trend of FPV floating photovoltaic systems, and the future is promising!
With the acceleration of new energy transformation and continuous technological breakthroughs, FPV floating photovoltaic systems have entered a stage of large-scale development, and will move towards four directions of "high efficiency, low cost, diversification, and ecologicalization" in the future. The market potential is enormous.
Continuous improvement in efficiency: New high-efficiency photovoltaic modules (such as TOPCon and HJT modules) will be widely used in FPV projects, combined with double-sided power generation technology to further enhance power generation efficiency.
At the same time, the popularity of intelligent tracking systems allows photovoltaic panels to track the trajectory of the sun in real time, maximizing the utilization of solar energy.
Gradual cost reduction: The large-scale production of floating materials, anchoring systems, and electrical equipment will effectively reduce the initial construction costs.
At the same time, the upgrade of operation and maintenance technology (such as drone inspection and automated cleaning) will reduce the investment in later operation and maintenance, and promote the FPV electricity cost to approach that of ground photovoltaic systems.
Diversified application scenarios: In addition to existing inland water areas and complementary fishing photovoltaic scenarios, ocean floating photovoltaic and deep-sea FPV projects will gradually be implemented.
At the same time, FPV will be combined with energy storage, hydrogen energy, pumped storage and other technologies to create an integrated system of "light hydrogen storage" and "light water storage", enhancing the stability of energy supply.
Ecological integration development: In the future, FPV projects will pay more attention to ecological adaptation, and through scientific layout of photovoltaic panels, use of environmentally friendly materials, and ecological restoration measures, achieve the coordinated development of "clean energy development+ ecological protection", such as planting aquatic plants around the project, protecting aquatic habitats, and creating eco-friendly FPV projects.
In summary, the floating photovoltaic (FPV) system, as a new clean energy technology, perfectly solves the pain point of traditional ones that require more land, and combines economic, ecological, and social benefits. Despite still facing challenges in technology and operations, with the continuous maturity of industry technology and continued policy support, FPVs will become an important force in global energy transformation, and are expected to take root and sprout in more water bodies in the future, providing us with cleaner and more efficient power supply.
