synergy

Installing solar panels on the surface of reservoirs is an up-and-coming trend. The arrays of solar panels produce renewable energy while at the same time shielding significant expanses of water from the sun’s heat, thereby reducing evaporation. The panels also help to inhibit the growth of algae.

Two recent floating solar installations are demonstrating the synergy between solar power and hydroelectric power.

The Lazer floating solar plant in France comprises over 50,000 solar panels and is capable of producing 30 MW of power. The reservoir serves a 16.5 MW hydropower plant. During the summer, the water from Lazer Reservoir is used primarily for crop irrigation and the solar plant supplements power generation as the reservoir water level experiences variations. This is the first facility of its kind to be installed in France. The company that built it – the EDF Group – had already built four floating solar power plants in Israel and the US.

In Colombia, the Aquasol solar project is installed at the 340 MW Urrá hydropower plant. Its 2,800 solar panels produce enough power to offset the amount of energy it takes to operate the dam. The floating solar system is designed to withstand water-level fluctuations of up to 120 feet.

Floating solar systems can help keep power flowing when low water levels or other adverse conditions reduce hydroelectric output. About 60% of the world’s renewable energy comes from hydropower. Given this fact, there are countless opportunities to deploy floating solar that maximizes zero-emission energy generation as well as diversifying clean energy sources.

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Floating solar and hydropower: A match made in renewable energy heaven

Photo, posted October 25, 2010, courtesy of Martin Abegglen via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

A new study by Oregon State University has found that the most productive places on Earth for solar power are farmlands. In fact, if less than 1% of agricultural land was converted to solar panels, it would be sufficient to fulfill global electricity demand.

The concept of co-developing the same area of land for both solar photovoltaic power and conventional agriculture is known as agrivoltaics.

The synergy between agriculture and solar power is not surprising. People have been growing crops around the planet for at least 8,000 years and, long ago, farmers found the best places to grow them which turn out to also the best places to harvest solar energy. The needs for solar panels are pretty similar to those of food crops. The efficiency of the panels decreases if they get too hot. Barren land is hotter than cropland, so the productivity of solar panels is less in such places.

The Oregon State Study analyzed power production data collected by Tesla, which had installed five large grid-tied, ground-mounted solar electric arrays owned by Oregon State. The researchers monitored air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, soil moisture, and incoming solar energy. With the data, they developed a model for the best conditions for solar panel productivity and they coincide with excellent conditions for agriculture. Solar panels are kind of like people with regard to the weather: they are happier when it is cool and breezy and dry.

Previously-published research shows that solar panels actually increase crop yields on pasture or agricultural fields.

These new results have implications for the current practice of constructing large solar arrays in deserts. Agricultural lands may be a much better option for both solar production and crop production.

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Installing solar panels on agricultural lands maximizes their efficiency, new study shows

Photo, posted April 20, 2011, courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Floating Solar And Hydropower | Earth Wise

Installing solar panels on the surface of reservoirs is an up-and-coming trend. The arrays of solar panels produce renewable energy while at the same time shielding significant expanses of water from the sun’s heat, thereby reducing evaporation. The panels also help to inhibit the growth of algae.

Web Links

Agrivoltaics

A new study by Oregon State University has found that the most productive places on Earth for solar power are farmlands. In fact, if less than 1% of agricultural land was converted to solar panels, it would be sufficient to fulfill global electricity demand.

Web Links