Floating solar plant set to be built in Australian first

Australia could have its first floating solar power plant within months, with construction set to begin on a PV array that will be installed on top of a wastewater treatment facility in Jamestown, South Australia.

The company behind the project, Infratech Industries, said construction of the plant was about to get underway, much of which would be done offsite and slotted together at the Jamestown facility, eventually covering up to 90 per cent of the water’s surface.

“We should see some plant on the site within about two weeks,” an Infratech spokesperson, Felicia Whiting, told ABC News.

6281416-3x2-940x627
Solar panels will be floated at the wastewater facility at Jamestown similar to a current project in France. Image via ABC News, supplied by Infratech Industries

Once completed – it could be operational by early April – the Jamestown floating solar plant is expected to produce more than enough energy to power the wastewater treatment facility, with excess power to be exported for use by the township.

With a focus on power, water and waste technology, Infratech was established nearly three years ago in Australia and Singapore and opened a US office in April 2013.

According to the company website, the Northern Areas Council – itself based in Jamestown – was Infratech’s first customer in 2013-14, when it commissioned a 3.5MW floating solar power plant.

Whiting says Infratech has developed floating solar power plants in countries including France and South Korea, but these had essentially acted as test sites for the new and improved model planned for South Australia.

“The plants that we had operating overseas were really behind the meter and not at the utility level and certainly didn’t have some of the sophistication,” Whiting said.

One of the advantages of floating solar panels is that they are kept cool by the water mass, making them about 57 per cent more efficient than land-based solar panels.

It also prevents water evaporation up to 90 per cent of the surface area covered – an important water saving measure – and prevents the outbreak of blue-green algae by keeping the surface water cool; an important water quality issue for for treated wastewater.

“By preventing photosynthesis, the energy from the sun goes into the panel rather than into the water,” said Whiting.

“The water treatment plants are heavy uses of power for the actual water treatments and pumping,”

“Quite sustainably, with no additional use of land, we can use the water surface to power the water treatment facility.

“In addition to that, because we’re so efficient, we’re able to export power to the township.”

Once operational, Whiting said the plant would become Infratech’s showpiece for export around the world.

“We’ve invested our whole research and development program in this technology over the past two years in South Australia,” she said.

“We have other councils waiting to have a look at this and see how it might be adapted to a water basin or a community wastewater management scheme.

“The fact that we are using Australian engineering and it’s an Australian supply chain – that will be taken internationally.”

Comments

8 responses to “Floating solar plant set to be built in Australian first”

  1. Ronald Brakels Avatar
    Ronald Brakels

    The cooling effect of water makes them 57% more efficient? Are you sure that’s water they’re floating on and not liquid helium, making super conducting solar panels? Very roughly they might be 15% more efficient, but that benefit is lost because they are lying flat and aren’t angled towards the sun.

    I’d even go as far as saying that floating PV is more useful in crowded South Korea than signficantly less crowded, still with massive unused roofspace, South Australia.

    1. suthnsun Avatar
      suthnsun

      It’s still a very synergistic use for PV Ronald, the additional benefits coupled to wastewater make it a compelling proposition and big improvement I imagine.

      1. Ronald Brakels Avatar
        Ronald Brakels

        I’m just grumpy because I’m having my period. Now I’m having another one. And here’s three in a row…

        1. suthnsun Avatar
          suthnsun

          It’s always been an open question whether 2 or three periods denotes a sequence..

  2. 김민우 Avatar
    김민우

    Floating photovoltaic system also needs the directional control mooring technology.
    Directional change of solar panels reduces electricity production. So it’s very important to maintain effectively same direction and position on the water.

  3. 김민우 Avatar
    김민우

    Floating solar power plants need to reduce vibration to install on the water.
    Vibration consistently impacts on the floating structure of the solar power
    plants.

  4. 김민우 Avatar
    김민우

    It’s very important to maintain effectively same direction and position on the water for floating solar plants. Because directional change of solar panels reduces electricity production. So Floating solar plants also need the directional control mooring systems for their parked positions. Azimuth and position change of floating solar plants caused by wind, waves and external forces. Restoring Force Strengthened Mooring System for floating solar plants has been created in South Korea. The Mooring System generates Restoring Force immediately when Floating solar plants are being rotated or moved on the water. Recently, this Restoring Force Strengthened Mooring Systems have been used in South Korea. You can see the Restoring Force Strengthened Mooring System in Ochang Dam, South Korea. INIWORLD

Get up to 3 quotes from pre-vetted solar (and battery) installers.