Phase 2 of a 320 megawatt floating solar project in China’s Zhejiang province has been completed, according to a report by PV Magazine. The 120 megawatts of new capacity complements the 200 megawatt (MW) portion of the installation that was completed in 2017. The panels float on the surface of the Changhe and Zhouxiang reservoirs in Cixi. The developer of the project is Hangzhou Fengling Electricity Science Technology.
Image credit: KSTAR
Inverters are a critical part of any solar power plant, but providing inverters for floating solar installations presents unique challenges. Chinese inverter maker Shenzhen Kstar Science and Technology supplied its GSL2500C-MV and GSL1250 central inverters for this second phase.
In an interview with PV Magazine, Tammy Tang, Kstar marketing manager, said, “The 320 MW plant has now an expected annual generation of 352 million KWH. The annual revenue from the generated electricity for the owner of the plant is about $45 million, while the annual fishery income can reach nearly $5 million.” Phase 2 cost a total of $1o0 million.
She added that the inverters supplied are designed specifically to withstand a wet environment with particular attention paid go sealing out moisture and dust. Electricity from the second phase will sell for 12 cents per kilowatt-hour.
With respect to the aquaculture part of the installation, Tang said, “The photovoltaic panels are set up above the water surface of the reservoir and the water area below the photovoltaic panel can be used for fish cultivation. Fishermen can fish and row boats there.”
The panels help reduce water surface evaporation and save water resources while creating a better hatching environment for fish, which helps to increase aquatic production. “The PV power plant has a high power generation efficiency and low operations and maintenance costs, as well as a minimal impact on the maritime life,” Tang said.
As CleanTechnica’s Michael Barnard told us in December, solar panels that float on water are more efficient because the water underneath them helps to keep them cool. They also help reduce evaporation, which preserves supplies of fresh water. All in all, floating solar is a brilliant idea whose time has come.
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