Floating solar tech that harvests clean power and water heads to Australia under new deal

Singaporean renewable microgrid developer Canopy Power has formed a strategic partnership with Norwegian PV innovator Ocean Sun to accelerate the deployment of floating solar projects across Australia.

The two companies plan to introduce Ocean Sun’s patented floating solar technology to the Australian market in an effort to address the increasing demand for renewable energy and sustainable water supplies.

Built on a circular membrane-based floater measuring 70-metres in diameter, high efficiency solar panels provide up to 700kWp of solar PV capacity while integrated pumps on the floater harvest millions of litres of rainwater each year.

Canopy Power, an expert in delivering renewable microgrid systems for businesses and communities in remote areas, will design and deploy the floating solar technology as a microgrid solution.

Ocean Sun’s floating solar technology can also be scaled as necessary to provide solar PV and rainwater harvesting capacity while also being integrated with other energy assets such as battery storage, rooftop or ground-mounted solar, and wind energy.

“We are committed to making a meaningful impact on Australia’s renewable energy and sustainability goals,” said Mahasti Motazedi, managing director at Canopy Power Australia.

“We believe that the strategic partnership between Ocean Sun and Canopy Power will enable us to introduce a unique and highly relevant solution to the Australian market, accelerating the energy transition and addressing key challenges.”

Introducing Ocean Sun’s patented technology to Australia aims to address the need for increased renewable energy generation capacity while minimising land usage and issues such as water scarcity and quality.

Specifically, the floating solar solution provides dual benefits for conserving water through both the additional harvesting of rainwater as well as a reduction in evaporation thanks to the membrane which covers the water’s surface. The technology can also help to reduce algae blooming in the body of water.

Using the lowest amount of material of any floating PV system delivers an overall levelized cost of electricity (LCoE) below that of competitors. Ocean Sun’s technology also benefits from direct water cooling, resulting in increased operational efficiency up to a 10 per cent higher energy yield compared to both ground-mounted and pontoon-based floating PV installations.

The technology is also wind and wave resistant thanks to its thin membrane, which provides the system with a hydroelastic response to environmental effects, and has received several validations from DNV, as well as being easy and quick to install.

It is expected that communities living near water bodies and companies such as water utilities, farms, energy companies, and hydrogen production facilities, will all be able to benefit from the introduction of this new floating solar technology.

“We are thrilled to partner with Canopy Power Australia to bring our innovative floating solar technology to the Australian market,” said Kristian Tørvold, CEO of Ocean Sun.

“This collaboration leverages our complementary expertise to address critical challenges such as land and water scarcity while accelerating the transition to renewable energy. Together, we aim to provide sustainable and cost-effective solutions that benefit both companies and communities across Australia.”