Floating solar parks of Japan

Japan is now turning to floating solar power stations. This to solve the problem of a lack of suitable land. Quarz reports that in June Japan is going live with its largest floating systems to date in two reservoirs in Kato City in the nation’s Hyogo prefecture. The systems have almost 9,000 solar panels. The panels lie on a bed of polyethylene and are, of course, fully waterproof. The two new floating systems in Kato City are expected to generate 3,300 megawatt hours annually, providing enough electricity to power about 920 typical households. This according to Kyocera. The company behind the initiative. The “mega-solar plants have several benefits compared to traditional land-based solar plants. Wired previously reported that floating plants generate power more efficiently because of the cooling effect of the water.

Besides this shade generated by the stations reduces water evaporation and algae growth. ,Are there no concerns? Of course there are. How will the structures be able to withstand natural disasters? National Geographic said that the floating systems were found to withstand hurricane-speed winds up to 118 miles per hour in testing at Onera (France’s aerospace lab). The systems have been described as earthquake-proof. Well this is what the future will prove to be right or wrong.

Another issue are the costs. Many claim that the systems are much costlier. Well I think that wasting our planet is even more costlier. Kyocera argues that the floating islands could play a huge role in helping Japan meet its goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2040. “The country has many reservoirs for agricultural and flood-control purposes, (Ichiro Ikeda, Kyocera spokesman), told the National Geographic. “There is great potential in carrying out solar power generation on these water surfaces. Japan isn’t the only country investing in these solar “islands, either. Projects are already online or underway in India, Australia, Great Britain, Brazil and in Sonoma County, California.