The Untold Promise of Floating Solar Arrays

Tuesday - August 15 2023, 09:03 UTC - 1 year ago

Solar arrays, floating on the oceans near the Equator, could revolutionize the energy landscape for densely populated nations in Southeast Asia and West Africa. Emerging research suggests that they have the potential to generate 35,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar energy annually in Indonesia alone. Indonesia stands at the forefront of this transition, utilizing its maritime area and the relative calmness of its equatorial regions to tap into the virtually limitless energy potential of its seas. Companies are working diligently to engineer defenses against storms, and this sustainable energy source is set to play an important role in the energy mix of countries in the coming years.

Vast arrays of solar panels floating on the tranquil waters near the Equator could revolutionize the energy landscape for densely populated nations in Southeast Asia and West Africa.

Recent research published in the peer-reviewed journal Solar has revealed that these offshore solar arrays have the potential to generate an astonishing 35,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar energy annually in Indonesia alone, a figure comparable to the current global electricity production of 30,000 TWh per year.

Contrary to the common perception of tumultuous oceans and violent high seas, regions along the Equator enjoy relative calmness, making them ideal candidates for harnessing this immense solar potential.

Even more promising is that the required engineering structures to shield these floating solar panels from any mild disturbances would be relatively inexpensive. The research highlights the Indonesian archipelago and the equatorial region of West Africa near Nigeria as ideal hotspots for offshore solar installations.

Solar-Powered Transition by 2050 .

With the world moving towards decarbonization and electrification, solar and wind energy are set to play pivotal roles in this transformative journey, according to researchers Andrew Blakers and David Silalahi of the Australian National University, in The Conversation.

Solar power is scalable, with just 70 square kilometers of solar panels capable of meeting the energy demands of a million people in a zero-carbon economy. While this works well in many countries, a few nations like Nigeria and Indonesia face space constraints due to their dense populations.

However, the solution for them is floating right in front of them – and quite literally.

These equatorial nations can tap into the virtually limitless energy potential of their calm seas, where traditional solar energy harvesting isn’t feasible due to limited land and poor wind conditions.

Floating solar panels can also be positioned on inland lakes and reservoirs, a rapidly growing trend with significant potential. The findings from another recent research identify regions untouched by powerful waves or winds for the past four decades: areas that could potentially generate a whopping one million TWh of energy annually.

Indonesia and the future of offshore Solar .

Indonesia stands at the forefront of this solar odyssey, grappling with a growing population and a need for clean energy.

The country’s vast maritime area offers a prime opportunity for floating solar panels, utilizing approximately 140,000 square kilometers of calm waters untouched by significant waves or winds in the past four decades.

While the offshore floating solar industry is still in its infancy, it holds tremendous promise. Companies are working diligently to engineer defenses against storms, but the equatorial regions enjoy a natural advantage with benign maritime environments requiring less robust and expensive defenses.

Despite challenges such as salt corrosion, marine fouling, and environmental concerns, the trajectory of offshore floating solar seems bright. This sustainable energy source is poised to play a significant role in the energy mix of Indonesia and other countries in the coming years.