Largest U.S. floating solar project coming to Sonoma County
Power generated by solar arrays floating on wastewater ponds will become part of the energy mix of Sonoma Clean Power (SCP), the County’s default electricity provider.
The venture with Pristine Sun represents the largest floating solar project in the United States, and the second largest in the world. Development is expected to be completed by the end of 2016, and will supply enough power for 3,000 homes at completion.
“This project is groundbreaking because it will be located on irrigation water storage ponds, protecting Sonoma County farmland while reducing our dependence on fossil fuel,” said SCP Board Chair, Mark Landman.
The systems will be installed on six different storage ponds, two in northwest Santa Rosa and four in the Sonoma Valley. SCP has identified additional potential sites for floating solar at local wineries and is planning to assist local vintners in developing smaller scale projects.
Recognizing the benefits of floating solar systems, such as minimizing aesthetic impact and preserving land, SCP embraced the floating panel concept as a way to build local renewable energy at a scale that keeps costs competitive with power from fossil fuels. Project sites were then leased to Pristine Sun, a solar developer based in San Francisco.
“This project furthers our goals of developing more renewable energy in Sonoma County,” SCP CEO Geof Syphers said of the 12.5 megawatt contract.
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Floating Solar Power Systems are wonderful Ideas. And it’s very important to maintain effectively same direction and position on the water for floating solar plants. Because directional change of solar panels reduces electricity production. So floating solar plants also need the directional control mooring systems for their parked positions. Azimuth and position change of floating solar plants caused by wind, waves and external forces. Restoring Force Strengthened Mooring System for floating solar plants has been created in South Korea. This Mooring System generates Restoring Force immediately when floating solar plants are being rotated or moved on the water.
In addition, you have to reduce vibration to install floating solar plants. Because, it can make micro-cracks to floating solar panels and the durability problem of floating solar plants. The risk of power loss in PV modules due to micro cracks is increasing.
Vibrations caused by wind, waves and external forces. New Type Floating Body Stabilizer has been created in South Korea. The Floating Body Stabilizers generate drag force immediately when floating solar plants are being rolled, pitched and yawed on the water.
Recently, Restoring Force Strengthened Mooring Systems and Floating Body Stabilizers have been used for floating solar plants in South Korea.
You can see them in Ochang Dam, South Korea. I N I WORLD