The saving effect is greater if the solar panel is placed on the water surface than on the ground. UC Santa Cruz and UC Merced calculated the cost and benefits of the entire California waterway, and found that the cost-effectiveness would be 20-50% higher than that of installing it on a daughter, saving up to 238.5 billion liters per year.
This is said to be equivalent to 20,000 hectares of irrigation water or 2 million living water. The research team points out that water shortages are serious in the west coast of the United States, and furthermore, it is essential to avoid dependence on fossil fuels in order to achieve zero emissions by carrying out the obligation to secure a large amount of renewable energy by 2050. In that respect, it is revealed that if it is an alternative development, additional effects can also be expected. It means that it is one stone two-jo in power generation and saving water.
California irrigation canals are close to 6,437 kilometers in length and are spread over inland agricultural lands. Although the drought that lasted for more than 7 years ended in 2019, it is not unusual no matter when a problem arises as forest fires and excessive use of groundwater continue. If the solar panel can be used as a cover to prevent the evaporation of 238.5 billion liters, it will be attractive.
Floating solar power is gradually gaining popularity in the United States as well. Although there were only two in 2016, the spread of the U.S. National Renewable Energy increased by appealing that if the U.S. artificial lake was covered in 2018, it would raise up to 10% of the nation’s electricity consumption. In 2020, the number increased to around 20, and a 6.5MW power generation facility with an output of 11,600 units, the largest in the United States, has appeared at the water purification plant in the northern Sonoma district. This place is said to have signed a 25-year contract with a power company.
The biggest obstacle to the polot type is that it is 10-15% more expensive than the ground type in its initial cost. However, as the technology improves, power companies and installers increase float-type efficiency, making the difference almost disappear.
In the case of output, according to the research team’s estimate, it is expected that it will be able to secure approximately 13GW, and it is calculated that the majority of the 20GW target for renewable energy production by 2030 can be met. Of course, if the sunlight is blocked, the flow of water is smoothed by reducing algae, but there may be sacrifices. Related information can be found here.