ICYMI
Floating Solar Panels Near the Equator Could Create Unlimited EnergyDarren Orf
Thu, August 10, 2023
Why Floating Solar Panels Are an Energy Godsend
SONGPHOL THESAKIT - Getty Images
Although many people know about wind’s offshore potential, the energy-producing power of offshore solar could be just as impactful.
A new study from scientists at the Australian National University created a global atlas of where such solar installations could be immensely beneficial—areas with calm weather and waters.
By the study’s estimates, the area around Indonesia alone could produce 35,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar energy a year, which more than the globe’s current annual energy production.
The world needs solar power, and it needs it as fast as possible.
Although society is already undergoing the greatest energy transfer in human history, more needs to be done to stave off the worst outcomes of climate change. Two of the biggest tools in our decarbonization toolbox are wind and solar power—but while offshore wind energy gets a lot of attention (and rightfully so), there is such a thing as offshore solar as well. And it could be a game changer for countries near the equator.
A new study conducted by scientists at Australian National University created a heatmap atlas for offshore solar, detailing where calm seas and mild winds around the globe coalesce to create environments perfect for hosting offshore solar installations. The results showed that areas near the equator, especially West Africa near Nigeria and Indonesia, were perfect candidates. These waters, if filled with solar panels, could create a tremendous amount of energy—so much, in fact, that the authors describe it as “unlimited.”
“Our new research shows offshore solar in Indonesia alone could generate about 35,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar energy a year, which is similar to current global electricity production (30,000TWh per year),” the authors write in an article posted on The Conversation. “Their tropical location in the so-called “doldrum” latitudes also means wind resources are poor. Fortunately, these countries—and their neighbors—can harvest effectively unlimited energy from solar panels floating on calm equatorial seas.”
Heatmap for floating solar panels. Red areas are best followed by yellow, green, and dark blue. The grey lines are indicative of tropic storm tracks.Blakers / Silalahi
The study finds that areas with waves that never reach higher than 20 feet and winds that never exceed 10 miles per hour could vastly benefit from offshore solar, as installations wouldn’t need to be hardened against storms. In Indonesia’s case, the study found that the some areas of the archipelago haven’t experienced any more turbulent conditions for more than 40 years. Indonesia also has great potential for pumped hydro energy storage, so the lights can still stay on when the Sun isn’t shining.
The other benefit is that both of these regions are densely populated, so locating sprawling solar installations out in the sea could be a win-win. Of course, protecting the fragile marine environments is a concern that must be taken seriously when building these installations, but the researchers estimate that Indonesia’s maritime boundary is 200 times greater than what its energy needs require, so it would have a relatively low impact.
Floating solar arrays do come with some pros and cons. One benefit is that these systems can be upwards of 15 percent more efficient than their on-land counterparts due to the cooling effect of water, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute. But offshore solar also has drawbacks—primarily maintenance challenges from salt corrosion and marine fouling.
In addition, outside this beneficial equatorial zone (around 5 to 12 degrees latitude from the equator), seas are much more tempestuous and often affected by tropical storms. This makes such solar installation difficult, though not impossible. The U.S., for example, just turned on its largest floating solar this past June. Countries such as China, Korea, and India also already have large floating solar arrays, and companies are working to design arrays that can withstand harsher aquatic latitudes.
To fight climate change, we need to explore every clean energy option possible—and that includes considering the potential of our oceans, ponds, and everything in between.
Although many people know about wind’s offshore potential, the energy-producing power of offshore solar could be just as impactful.
A new study from scientists at the Australian National University created a global atlas of where such solar installations could be immensely beneficial—areas with calm weather and waters.
By the study’s estimates, the area around Indonesia alone could produce 35,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar energy a year, which more than the globe’s current annual energy production.
The world needs solar power, and it needs it as fast as possible.
Although society is already undergoing the greatest energy transfer in human history, more needs to be done to stave off the worst outcomes of climate change. Two of the biggest tools in our decarbonization toolbox are wind and solar power—but while offshore wind energy gets a lot of attention (and rightfully so), there is such a thing as offshore solar as well. And it could be a game changer for countries near the equator.
A new study conducted by scientists at Australian National University created a heatmap atlas for offshore solar, detailing where calm seas and mild winds around the globe coalesce to create environments perfect for hosting offshore solar installations. The results showed that areas near the equator, especially West Africa near Nigeria and Indonesia, were perfect candidates. These waters, if filled with solar panels, could create a tremendous amount of energy—so much, in fact, that the authors describe it as “unlimited.”
“Our new research shows offshore solar in Indonesia alone could generate about 35,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar energy a year, which is similar to current global electricity production (30,000TWh per year),” the authors write in an article posted on The Conversation. “Their tropical location in the so-called “doldrum” latitudes also means wind resources are poor. Fortunately, these countries—and their neighbors—can harvest effectively unlimited energy from solar panels floating on calm equatorial seas.”
Heatmap for floating solar panels. Red areas are best followed by yellow, green, and dark blue. The grey lines are indicative of tropic storm tracks.Blakers / Silalahi
The study finds that areas with waves that never reach higher than 20 feet and winds that never exceed 10 miles per hour could vastly benefit from offshore solar, as installations wouldn’t need to be hardened against storms. In Indonesia’s case, the study found that the some areas of the archipelago haven’t experienced any more turbulent conditions for more than 40 years. Indonesia also has great potential for pumped hydro energy storage, so the lights can still stay on when the Sun isn’t shining.
The other benefit is that both of these regions are densely populated, so locating sprawling solar installations out in the sea could be a win-win. Of course, protecting the fragile marine environments is a concern that must be taken seriously when building these installations, but the researchers estimate that Indonesia’s maritime boundary is 200 times greater than what its energy needs require, so it would have a relatively low impact.
Floating solar arrays do come with some pros and cons. One benefit is that these systems can be upwards of 15 percent more efficient than their on-land counterparts due to the cooling effect of water, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute. But offshore solar also has drawbacks—primarily maintenance challenges from salt corrosion and marine fouling.
In addition, outside this beneficial equatorial zone (around 5 to 12 degrees latitude from the equator), seas are much more tempestuous and often affected by tropical storms. This makes such solar installation difficult, though not impossible. The U.S., for example, just turned on its largest floating solar this past June. Countries such as China, Korea, and India also already have large floating solar arrays, and companies are working to design arrays that can withstand harsher aquatic latitudes.
To fight climate change, we need to explore every clean energy option possible—and that includes considering the potential of our oceans, ponds, and everything in between.
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