Floating solar panels on hydro dams a win-win, experts say

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-12-09 03:00

New Zealand

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In an opinion piece, sustainable energy experts say floating solar panels present a major opportunity to solve New Zealand's 'dry-year problem'. They reference previous research which has found having water below solar panels can cool them and make them more efficient; reflections from water can provide more sunlight to convert into power; and that the panels can reduce water evaporation and turbulence in the reservoirs they are floating on. They point to one floating solar power system installed at a wastewater treatment plant in Auckland which has saved the company $4.5 million in power annually. The researchers say there is a major opportunity to do something similar with our hydropower reservoirs, providing an alternate source of energy when water levels are low.