Buoyant Design & Adaptable Mooring Mechanisms Help Floating Solar Remain Intact Through Hurricane Milton
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Last month, Super Typhoon Capricorn struck Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China, and was one of the most severe typhoons to hit the region since 1949. In this wild weather with torrential gusts and gigantic waves, the floating Mibet solar panels pounded by the typhoon remained incredibly buoyant and sturdy. Soon after, on the other side of the planet, floating solar panels withstood another powerful storm, Milton.
Milton slammed Florida’s Gulf Coast, causing beautiful houses to have the living rooms taken off, roofs dispersed into crumbles, and docks blowing into bedrooms. (Only a few of the stories I listened to firsthand.)
Following Hurricane Milton (which left over 3 million people without power, portions of their roofs, and other devastation), D3Energy undertook rigorous inspections of its floating solar portfolio around central Florida. Some were directly in the storm’s path. It did withstand high wind occurrences thanks to its flexible, buoyant design and adaptable mooring mechanisms.
Hurricane Milton put floating solar’s resilience to the test during brutal weather. D3Energy shared that all of its systems are fully operating, with no reported damage. Such weather occurrences and stories emphasize the importance of competent design, installation, and maintenance. This experience is critical to the success of these projects, especially when they are tested by natural disasters like Hurricane Milton.
“While many ground-mounted and rooftop solar installations had issues, D3Energy’s floating solar arrays proven their resilience in tough situations. These systems withstood hurricane-force winds and heavy flooding, demonstrating the reliability of floating solar technology,” the company writes.
“A key factor in this success is D3Energy’s partnership with Ciel & Terre, the global leader in floating solar technology. Often referred to as the pioneers of floating solar, their Hydrelio® system provides the advanced engineering and design that underpin D3Energy’s installations, enabling them to deliver robust, storm-resistant projects.”
“Our systems are designed to handle extreme weather, and Hurricane Milton was a clear example of that,” said Stetson Tchividjian, Managing Director of D3Energy. “Seeing all of our systems continue to operate smoothly in the aftermath of such a powerful storm is a testament to the expertise and commitment of our team and partners.”
Last night, I had a dream of flooded blue-green waters. The science alone is worrisome. Yet, this could reflect a message from Mother Earth that she will continue to oppose fossil fuels and car-centric practices. Here’s another tale of the buoyant solutions that one architect exhibits. It inspires hopefulness. As the world evolves, individuals like this remarkable man will be inspired to help us adapt. Thebetterindia shares a carbon neutral solution to floods: “A house that floats during floods and is built entirely from natural materials and sourced from the local environment.”
Watch how Prashant Kumar made it happen! >>
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