Floating solar mooring is a relatively new industry that has been around since 2006 and has experienced accelerated growth since 2015. The many benefits of putting photovoltaic panels on man-made bodies of water are creating increasing demand for floating solar installations.
Floating solar mooring provides impressive financial and environmental benefits. To name a few:
- Land preservation – valuable land space used for solar farms freed up
- Water volume retention – evaporation of water for drinking or irrigation mitigated by intercepting sunlight before it hits the reservoir’s surface
- Water quality preservation– growth of algae inhibited by shading water and growth of bacteria, such as giardia and cryptosporidium, restricted due to water temperature reduction
- Solar cell efficiency augmentation – panels made up to 11% more efficient than land-based PV systems due to cooling effect of water!
- Solar cell atrophy minimization – risk of solar cell atrophy minimized due to cooler air at surface
- Land-based solar farm cost mitigation – cost associated with land-based solar farms such as land purchase, clearing, maintenance, and insurance against flooding mitigated
Hazelett Marine revolutionizes floating solar mooring with the innovative use of elastics. Our elastics, renowned for low maintenance and stability, offer an exceptional solution for mooring floating solar arrays. By strategically distributing elastics, we reduce peak forces by an impressive 30–80%, absorbing energy and diminishing stress on anchors.
Guided by practicality, Hazelett recommends a versatile approach to elastic usage. For extreme conditions, employing 1 elastic per 200 sq ft ensures robust mooring, while for the calmest conditions, a ratio of 1,500 sq ft per elastic suffices. This dynamic range highlights the adaptability of our elastics to varying environmental factors, providing tailored solutions for diverse scenarios.
Emphasizing stability, our elastics contribute to a reliable and resilient floating solar mooring system. The strategic absorption of energy not only enhances the lifespan of the mooring system but also reduces wear and tear on components. With Hazelett Marine’s elastic mooring, embrace efficiency, longevity, and environmental consciousness in harnessing solar energy over man-made bodies of water.