Floating solar power on a reservoir

We’ve become accustomed to seeing photovoltaic panels on roofs, and even seen them embedded in sidewalks.

Now Thames Water in London, U.K. is building a solar array that will float upon a reservoir. It is said to be the largest floating solar array in the world, covering approximately 128 hectares, about 6% of the Queen Elizabeth II reservoir which lies about 30 kilometres from London.

The array has 23,000 solar PV panels mounted on 61,000 floating platforms held in place by 177 anchors. It will have a capacity of 6.3 MW and the electricity it generates will help to power water treatment plants.

To read an article by Bob Yirka about the system in TechXplore, click here.