Victorian firm launches next generation floating solar

PRESS RELEASE

The first Australian owned, designed and manufactured floating solar solution has been launched into the market after 4 years R&D, bringing this under-utilised renewable energy option into budget for many organisations.

With key product benefits of 100% recyclability and a streamlined shape which is designed to reduce freight costs by around 30%, FloatPac Solar is not only environmentally innovative but highly cost-effective.

“It’s unfortunate that, as a nation plagued by water insecurity and blessed with an abundance of sunlight, we still aren’t capitalising on the potential of floating solar. There is a real onus on us to lead the global field, with regard to research, but also to find long-term solutions to rising Australian energy costs – the legacy of an ageing infrastructure,” says FloatPac CEO Gavin Hodgins.

“The prospect of an affordable floating solar solution has already generated huge interest. As a broad concept, floating solar is an ideal proposition for any industry that has high water and energy usage, but uptake has historically been limited principally because of the cost of importation.

“We took on the challenge by not only manufacturing within Australia, but by designing a sustainable product which – even in its transportation – has a significantly lesser environmental impact than existing products in the marketplace.

“You combine that with the inherent benefits of floating solar – including greater panel efficiency due to the cooling effects of water – and this is a really exciting step forward for the renewables sector.”

Mounted on the surface of large bodies of water, floating solar not only maximises otherwise ‘dead’ space, but also reduces evaporation and suppresses algae.

“The compact design of FloatPac solar has a direct impact on cost, as the reduction in freight charges directly impacts on the per kW costs of the product. The potential savings are significant.

“We have 35 years’ experience in flotation alone, and this design utilises the learning from our leading product which has, itself, carved a remarkable niche within the industry.

“The pods are UV stabilized, rot and mold resistant and 100% recyclable, and we’re passionate about working with Australian manufacturers with a vision of creating a completely Australian made product offering – from arrays and panels, right through to inverters and cabling.” 

FloatPac built its reputation over three decades in the marine and aquatic sector, championing innovative design and manufacturing techniques. Now, turning attention to the creation of an environmentally sustainable solar solution, ideal for businesses with high water usage and in drought-prone geographies, the product’s design also increases panel efficiency, reduces evaporation and enhances water quality.