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Floating PV System

Installation and Challenges

13 December 2018

Presented by:

Ir Antonio C M CHAN

CIBSE One-day Seminar on Renewable Energy New Development and Technologies in Hong Kong

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13 consecutive days of hot weather in May 2018

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An 11-million-tonne iceberg threatens tiny Greenland village, July 2018

Solar energy is one of the Renewable Energy source and is considered as an alternative means and yet is free of charge

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Government Policy Support on Renewable Energy (1)

440 to 660 million kWh Per year: ~ 300 to 450 MW Capacity

Government Policy Support on Renewable Energy (1)

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Future Development of Floating Solar Farms in HK

Black & Veatch was awarded by WSD to study the Feasibility of Installing Floating Solar Farms at 17 nos. of Impounded Reservoirs in Hong Kong;

~ 2 MW Pilot Scheme of Floating Solar Farm was completed;

~ ???MW Floating Solar Farm(s) will be Constructed in Middle Term Period;

???? Floating Solar Farm(s) will be Constructed in Long Term Period.

Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Leung and a reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, in the Legislative Council today (July 2017):

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Existing Solar Farms in Hong Kong

CIC’s Zero Carbon Centre: 80 kW Capacity

DSD’s Siu Ho Wan SWTW: 1.1 MW CapacityHEC’s Lamma Power Station: 1 MW Capacity

EMSD’s Headquarter: 350 kW Capacity

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Source : researchgate.com

Compete for the tallest building in the world

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Tengger Desert Solar Park, China 1,547 MW solar power was installed in Zhongwei, Ningxia by 2015.

Bhadla Solar Park, India MW1,365

Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park, India 1000 MW operational as of December 2017

Datong Solar Power Top Runner Base, China 1000MW Phase I completed in June 2016.

Longyangxia Dam Solar Park, China 320 MW

Villanueva Solar Park, Mexico 828 MW when completed, expected completion in second half of 2018

Rewa Ultra Mega Solar, India 750MW

Kamuthi Solar Power Project, India 648MW

Pavagada Solar Park, India 600MW

Karnataka state, United States 579 MW

Current largest land installed Solar Farm

Tengger Desert Solar Park, Ningxia, China 1,547 MW

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Tamil Nadu's Kamuthi solar plant in India of 648MW

Rank / Size (kW) Name of reservoir / Name of Plant Country

1 40,000 Coal mining subsidence area of Huainan City China

2 20,000 Coal mining subsidence area of Huainan City China

3 9,902 Pei County China

4 7,550 Umenoki Japan

5 6,776 Jining GCL China

6 6,338 Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir UK

7 3,000 Cheongpung Lake South Korea

8 3,000 Otae Province South Korea

9 3,000 Jipyeong Province South Korea

10 2,991 Godley Reservior Floating Solar PV UK

Top 10 Floating Solar Grid Connected PV Plants

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Umenoki Solar Plant, Japan of 7,550kW

Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir of 6,338kW

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Kawarayama Ike

Three Gorges, China of 150MW

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Pei County, China of 9,902kW

Kyocera 2.3MW Floating Solar Power Plant in Kasai City

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Another 150MW Floating PV System in Guqiao, Anhui is under construction

Source : solarbabax.com

India is inviting tender for a 150MW Floating PV System in 2018

Source : MarineEnergy.biz

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Visit to the 40MW FPV in Huainan City, Anhui

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What are the Pros and Cons

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Due to the cooling effect of the water on both the panels and theelectrical equipment, all water resistant, floating solar plants areexpected to yield a higher power output than conventional solarinstallations, thus the return on investment is higher.

As per a study conducted in Korea, comparing two Floating PVplants of 100 kWp & 500 kWp each with equivalent respectiveground mounted PV systems, it was reported that daily averagegeneration (kWh) of the FPV plants were approximately 10%higher compared to the land based systems.

Similar study was conducted by the Solar Energy ResearchInstitute of Singapore (SERIS).

Source : A Study on Power Generation Analysis of Floating PV System Considering Environmental Impact by Young-Kwan Choi

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The city poured 96 million, black, four-inch plastic balls over the surface of its 175-acre reservoir earlier this week - the first city in the country to use shade balls to preserve its water sources,

Source : dailymail.com.uk

Environment impacts Minimize water evaporation, conservewater by lowering the water temperature and reducing the size ofthe water area exposed to air, floating solar panels can reducewater evaporation by up to 33% on natural lakes and ponds, andby to 50% on man-made facilities.

The systems can also improve water quality. As water bodies areexposed to the sun, photosynthesis promotes growth of organicmatter, including algae. By shading the water, algae growth isreduced, minimizing the associated treatment and labor costs.

Preserves existing ecosystems There is no excavation work,concrete foundation or banks occupation necessary.

Most of the systems are supported on HDPE blocks; can safely beinstalled on drinking water reservoirs.

Generally anchors require no excavation and have no impact onexisting ecosystems

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Cons or points to consider:

Environmental Impact on Floating PV System

Occurrence of Wave Due to Wind Velocity

Wind Speed’s Effect on Structure

Effect of Wind Speed on Power Generation Amount

Challenges for installing floating PV: a) Electrical equipment, modules and wiring, must be water resistant. b) Effects on the environment, mainly water quality, must be considered, and the annual fluctuation in reservoir water levels must be taken into when constructing the system.

Shallow Water Area

spec：

• wind speed 30m/s

• depth 10m

• water level

difference3m

• Maximum design

Piling anchor

System Solution/Anchoring System Design

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Moderate depth area

spec：

• wind speed 30m/s

• depth 30m

• water level difference

10m

• No-piling

gravity anchor

System Solution/Anchoring System Design

Profundal water area

spec：

• wind speed 25m/s

• depth 100m

• water level difference

30m

• complex geography

Sinking anchor

System Solution/Anchoring System

Design

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Offshore typhoon area

spec：

• wind speed 48m/s

• depth 3~20m

• water level difference

4m

• No-sinking anchor

Piling anchor and

gravity anchor

combined

System Solution/Anchoring System

Design

Current Development of Floating Solar Farms

Two (2) Pilot Floating Solar Farms each with 100 kW by Water Supplies Department (WSD)

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Plover Cove Reservoir (Completed in Oct 2017 by CLPE)

Shek Pik Reservoir (Completed in Feb 2017 by REC)

Current Development of Floating Solar Farms

Item Description

No. of PV Panels : 352 nos. (Total 8 Strings and 44 nos. in each String)

Type of PV Panels : Mono-crystalline Solar Panel

Total Output : 100 kW (Max. Current 139.2A)

On-Gird Date : 20 February 2017

Current Development of Floating Solar Farms

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Real Time Power Output

Total Energy Saving

Power Box

Drone

Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Special Features of Shek Pik Project

BIM Video

Special Features of Shek Pik Project

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Special Wind Resistance Design:

Reduce the Visual Impact: Innovational Pattern Design?

Other Installation Locations: Sea?

Other Special Features / Designs?

Lily Pattern

FPV on the Sea

What’s next?

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www.rec-eng.com

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