Compared to the roof and ground solar panels, what advantages does a floating solar mounting system have
Compared to the roof and ground solar panels, what advantages does a floating solar mounting system have ?
A floating solar mounting system is one of the best solar mount systems used for powering large projects like towns. They consist of solar panels attached to a floating surface and placed on waterbodies. The water bodies need to be calm to stabilize the panels such as basins, lakes as well as man-made waterbodies like reservoirs. A floating mount system is more convenient than other mounting systems because it does not take up any space on land.
Solar Mounting Roof systems have recently become more popular due to their cheaper installation costs and utilization of space. For buildings or houses with limited space on land, a roof mount is more beneficial because it uses space that would otherwise be unutilized. Roof solar panels are exactly that, solar panels installed on the roof of houses and buildings.
They are usually installed on roofs due to inadequate space on the ground. This is convenient for people without any space on the ground. But roof panels need to face a specific direction to get the most sun exposure throughout the day.
Ground-mounted solar panels are solar panels that are mounted on the ground of one's property instead of the roof. This requires having enough space on the ground. The panels should be mounted in places where they are less likely to be shaded by buildings or trees. This system is good because the sun exposure is definite throughout the day and the ground panels can be tilted to follow the direction of the sunlight.
floating solar mounting systems have the following advantages compared to ground and roof solar mounting and ground solar mounting systems;
Floating solar panels do not require land space
Floating solar panels do not need a lot of land space other than attaching the panels to the land from the water. Compared to the ground mount system which requires the use of ample land space. This could lead to cutting down trees and destroying the environment. The floating solar panels can generate power up to 1.6 MW per hectare while the ground-mounted solar panels can generate power up to 1.33 MW per hectare.
The floating solar panels are used in large and still water bodies such as lakes. They are used for large projects which require a huge piece of land. This would lead to cutting down trees and plants to use for solar panels. Placing the panels on water bodies will save space on land for more useful and productive activities.
The floating mount system has a higher performance
Floating solar panels perform higher than other systems because the solar panels are placed on the water. The water acts as a coolant for when the temperature of the solar panels rises. The cooling helps reduce the temperature, thus increasing the energy production of the solar panels and extending the shelf life of the panels.
Due to this ability, the floating solar panels are only used for larger projects like powering an entire town or manufacturing plant while ground and roof panels can be used in smaller projects like powering a house or a small farm.
Floating solar panels reduce water evaporation.
Floating solar panels shade waterbodies thus reducing the evaporation due to direct sunlight. In turn, the water keeps the panels cool throughout the day. Other than this, the panels also can get cleaned easily on the water due to immediate access to the water supply. Compared to the ground and solar panels which do not have access to water thus cleaning becomes harder and more time-consuming.
Floating solar panels are less likely to be shaded
Floating solar panels are placed at the center of a water body thus keeping the panels away from the building or tall trees. This reduces the chances of being shaded by the sun, hence the panels are accessible to the sun throughout the entire day. On the other hand, ground and solar mount panels especially in rural areas most likely get blocked from direct access to sunlight by large buildings and trees.
A floating solar mount is environmentally friendly
A floating solar mount system reduces the likelihood of cutting down trees for installing solar panels on the ground. Ground mount system requires a lot of land space and thus may lead to deforestation which can harm wildlife.
Other than reducing deforestation by eliminating the need to use the land for installing solar panels, there are other benefits of floating solar panels to the environment. In dry regions or areas, water bodies evaporate at a faster rate due to direct sun exposure and maximum heat. The floating solar panels act as a shade for the water and reduce the rate of evaporation.
Other than reducing evaporation, the shade also prevents the growth of algae flowers. These flowers are deadly to plants and animals who come into contact with them.
Solar panels in general produce clean and renewable energy. This is one of the safest energy sources on the planet. It does not emit any harmful gases or chemicals to the atmosphere around it, making it safe for humans as well as other living beings.
Using solar energy as the main power source reduces the dependency on fossil fuels which are harmful to the environment. Ground, roof, and floating mount systems are all safe and clean methods for power generation. Regardless of their differences they all perform the same function and have similar effects on the environment.
Solar panels are known to perform higher under high temperatures and direct sunlight. But as the temperature rises, the solar panels get heated thus, reducing their efficiency over time. Floating solar panels are overall the best panel system to install for the panels to have a higher efficiency over a longer period.
All the mounting systems are beneficial and have some advantages over the others. Hence, it is important to consider all three mounting systems and their factors to determine the best mounting system for the user.
References
https://www.starwinsolar.com/product-list/floating-solar-mounting-system
