Sailing on a lake and coming across an island of solar panels that dance with the sun might seem like a scene from a science fiction film: the Portuguese startup SolarisFloat is working to make it a reality. This floating “island” is not only an engineering masterpiece, but represents a significant step forward in solar energy production. But how can an island of solar panels improve energy efficiency? And what benefits does it bring to our ecosystem? Let's find out together.
SolarisFloat: innovation that floats
In a world where clean energy has become a priority, companies are looking for increasingly creative solutions to make the most of renewable resources. One of these is the Protevs system: it is not a simple set of floating solar panels, but has a unique design that allows it to move following the sun. This movement, possible thanks to electric motors and different axis designs, allows maximizing efficiency in the absorption of solar rays. Think about how a plant bends towards the light: Protevs does the same, but mechanically and on a much larger scale. A notable evolution on the theme of “floating solar".
An island of technical details that make the difference
The Protevs system installed in the Oostvoornse Meer lake in the Netherlands boasts 180 moving panels producing a peak power of 73 kilowatts. And these are not ordinary solar panels: they are doubly efficient because they are double-sided, meaning they capture light from both sides.
The Protevs+ model covers an area of 1.444 square meters (15.543 square feet) and has a diameter of approximately 38 meters (125 feet). But the real magic lies in the movement: the panels move vertically following a double-axis tracking. And if you think that's impressive, there's also a Single360 model, with just one axis but with 360 modules producing a peak power of 147 kilowatts.
Beneficial side effects
In addition to energy production, the Protevs system has another surprising benefit: it protects the aquatic environment. As? The shadows created by solar panels reduce the evaporation of lake water by 60%. This leads to a reduced proliferation of algae in the lake: a positive effect on water quality, which makes the body of water a better habitat for aquatic fauna and flora.
Another fundamental aspect to consider is space. Solar energy systems require large areas, often larger than those needed to produce energy from dirty sources. Placing solar panels on water is a really interesting solution: not only do you save precious space on land, but you use otherwise unused surface area.
What do you think?
