Researchers and developers have been searching for new and better ways to work solar panels into our day to day lives. Solar has been proven to be a worthy contender in the search for alternatives to non-renewable energy sources. However, some of the newest developments are still being tested and may have far to go before we can consider them completely safe and practical.

One of the most recent adaptations is the floating solar panel. Also known as floating photovoltaics or FPV, these arrays sit right on the surface of a body of water. They are supported by a buoyant structure that prevents them from sinking. They are typically used on calmer waters like those found in manmade reservoirs, lakes, or ponds.

The Benefits of FPV

Why push for FPVs? The most obvious benefit involves land. Some structures can hold solar panels on rooftops. This is not feasible when constructing a larger array with a higher output. These are usually installed at ground level on frames. They work, but they also take up valuable land area. They also require the demolition of local trees and vegetation, which can be devastating for wildlife.

Putting FPVs on the water eliminates the need to destroy otherwise pristine or usable land. They also have the added benefit of reducing evaporation during warm months, which can lower the risk of harmful algal bloom. The water helps cool the equipment while it works.

The Challenges of FPV

FPV technology sounds great, but it isn’t without its challenges. Specialised equipment is required which comes at a higher cost compared to a land-based installation.

There are also concerns about how the presence of solar panels could affect water quality.

Water supply company Evides Waterbedrijf in the Netherlands believes that it can generate all the power it needs to pump and distribute by installing FPV on 30% of its reservoirs. That could be a huge step in the right direction for the environment.

The company is starting with a 1.62 MW floating solar power plant in Kralingen.

The panels must work and not lower the quality of the drinking water the company supplies. Factors like reduced UV radiation on the water, wind impact, and even bird droppings are all a concern.

If the company finds that the water quality isn’t negatively altered, then they plan to move forward by installing FPV on three other reservoirs.

The Netherlands is home to around 52,000 hectares of shallow pools that could be converted into solar power stations. Not all of them are used to supply drinking water, so quality may not be as big of an issue in those locations.

This is an exciting development for communities that want to go 100% green. Connect Electric will monitor progress and share any updates to Evides Waterbedrijf’s findings or other FPV projects around the world. We still have a long way to go to perfect the way we use solar panels, but these changes make us hopeful for a cleaner future with sustainable energy.

The Hornsdale Power Reserve received regulatory approval to move forward with an expansion project. The facility is already the largest lithium-ion battery of its kind in the world.

South Australia fielded 90 proposals from 10 countries suggesting several projects back in April of 2017. The original guidelines set forth included a completion date of December of the same year. The goal was to keep the process moving quickly. Funding was easier to secure thanks to international interest in the undertaking.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk added to the list of hopefuls with one significant promise: his team would finish the job within 100 days of signing the contract or the battery would be free. It was a deal that was too good to pass up. The contract was awarded to Tesla.

Musk’s team easily beat his 100-day promise by finishing in just 63 days, making the battery operational in September 2017.

Two years later in November, the capacity was increased by 50%. The expansion was funded by $15 million from the government, $8 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and $50 million in cheap loans issued through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

The Hornsdale Power Reserve is currently owned by independent power company Neoen.

Connect Electric is excited to see new projects and expansions that bring solar energy to more people throughout Australia.

Expanding Solar in Australia

The Hornsdale Power Reserve had an interesting beginning and continues to impress with its performance. The project has been successful enough to encourage yet another expansion.

On 18 June 2020, the Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCoSA) approved a variation to the Big Battery’s licence. The change would permit an increase from 100 megawatts to 150 megawatts.

The location would expand from 100MW/129MWh to 150MW/194MWh. There would be additional storage to provide synthetic inertia. The update would allow the facility to deliver more service to the grid, further phasing out some of the community’s reliance on fossil fuel.

This approval also marks a milestone in the South Australian government’s plan to achieve net 100% renewables in the next 10 years.

Hornsdale is one of three big batteries currently in operation. The other locations include Lake Bonney and Dalrymple North. Plans for new facilities are in the works.

The ESCoSA released a statement explaining that “The Commission assessed Hornsdale Power Reserve Pty LTD’s application for an electricity generation licence against the relevant provisions of the Electricity Act 1996 and the Essential Services Commission Act 2002 and determined that all relevant criteria under those Acts have been satisfied. It has therefore approved the application.”

The expansion was originally announced last year with plans to be online in March 2020.

So far, Hornsdale’s battery has been an enormous success for everyone. That includes the state government who signed a 10-year long $40 million contract that guaranteed emergency backup as well as the grid operator, owner, and consumers who utilise its services.

According to Neoen, the reserve has provided over $150 million in cost reductions. The company’s official website stated that construction has begun with plans to finish this year. Along with consumer savings, they expect the project to serve as a demonstration of the “potential for using battery storage to provide stabilising inertia services that are critical to the future integration of renewable energy.”

It may sound strange, but livestock and solar energy have a lot in common. Specifically, because the two are joining together to give communities more options when it comes to generating power and other natural resources.

Solar panels work well on their own. However, some arrays must be installed on the ground. There may not be a structure available with a roof that can accommodate the panels at the correct position and angle. Or it could be due to the sheer size of the array. In either situation, the panels are built onto sturdy frames that are planted in the earth.

 That also means that the solar array will take up space that could be used for other purposes – like farming. More solar panels mean more energy for everyone, but at the price of land.

That’s why some energy experts and farmers are getting creative with where they build. Connect Electric wants to explore the possibilities to discover more ways that we can use solar to support communities.

Raising Livestock and Generating Energy

Charles Gould is an energy educator at Michigan State University Extension. He believes that solar panels can work in harmony with other traditional land uses.

“One of the things that we are really trying to encourage is raising livestock – especially sheep – underneath those solar arrays.”

He believes that doing so has benefits for solar developers and the animals. While the panels are busy collecting sunlight to convert to electricity, the sheep can cool off in the shade the array creates. This is great on hot days when they want to escape the heat.

Meanwhile, the sheep’s grazing will help keep vegetation down, which can eliminate the need to mow regularly. That’s less work for the landowner and means that they won’t need to use the fuel required to operate a mower.

In upstate New York, the community egg cooperative Geneva Peeps raises chickens under solar panels. A University of Massachusetts pilot program found that cows thrive under solar panels that are elevated to give them room to move. Researchers in Oregon discovered that arrays increased grasses for sheep and cows by 90%.

This experiment is underway in America, but it could encourage people in other parts of the world to adopt a similar approach to solar development.

Pollinator Gardens and Solar Arrays

Pollinator gardens are another way to get additional use out of the land that supports solar arrays.

“There’s actually a wide variety of plans that we can put in that will support pollinating insects that are low-growing, deep-rooted, hold the soil in place, [and] are nice to look at.” Gould explained.

These solar pollinator gardens could be built near berry fields or orchards to help attract the pollinators that help crops thrive.

More projects will likely appear as the world continues to evolve the way we use solar panels. These experiments prove that we don’t have to choose between generating renewable energy and growing food. We can do both on the same stretch of land, at the same time.

Electric cars have been around for a while now. They are often a topic of discussion among people who want to find ways to cut CO2 emissions and live greener. The technology has improved, bringing us even more ways to phase out fossil fuels.

Bigger vehicles like Tesla’s all-electric Class 8 semi truck are impressive and add to the versatility of renewable energy. But there’s another advancement that Connect Electric feels should be on everyone’s radar.

The Biggest Electric Commerical Aircraft Takes Off

A Washington State airfield nestled between stretches of farmland made renewable history as the departure point for the biggest electrical commercial aeroplane thus far. The craft took off and flew for 30 minutes on 28 May 2020.

Its journey took it over Grant County International Airport where a crowd of observers cheered.

The aircraft in question was a modified Cessna Caravan 208B. It can carry up to 9 passengers. It only had one seat installed for the pilot at the time of the flight.

A small group of 9 sounds like nothing compared to the 200 to 300-seat aeroplanes that deliver passengers for holidays and work trips. Or the massive double-decker models that fly across entire continents. It may be tiny in comparison, but it was still an important first step.

Despite its small stature, the experimental plane is a noteworthy achievement for AeroTEC and MagniX. The two companies provided the electric motor and were pleased with the results.

MagniX CEO Roei Ganzarski stated that the price of flying the Cessna was a mere $6 USD (approximately $8.75 AUD). The same trip using conventional fuel would have cost around $437 to $583 AUD.

Starting Small Yields Big Results

This isn’t the first time that electricity has allowed man to fly. Previous experiments have been successfully completed that used smaller aircraft with electric engines supplied by MagniX. Those smaller endeavours are what pushes research and development toward bigger results.

It’s important to remain realistic about the timeline for full-sized commercial flights that rely on a renewable fuel source. We most likely won’t see a 100% electric-powered large-scale commercial aircraft anytime soon, or even within the next half a century. However, the technology will continue to improve and allow us to make air travel more efficient and affordable.

Energy density is one of the problems researchers face. This term refers to the number of watt-hours you can get per kilogram. Today’s lithium-ion battery has an energy density that could reach up to 250 Wh per kg while jet fuel is closer to 12,000 Wh per kg.

While that sounds like a significant difference, electrical propulsion systems help close the gap with efficient designs. They require less energy to cover more miles compared to traditional systems.

Even with that extra efficiency, fossil fuel models are still 14 times more energy-rich. Batteries can also be awkward to add to an aircraft due to their rigid shape and bulk. Liquid fuel can accommodate different shapes, like fitting inside a wing.

It may take time, but eventually, we will find ways to address these challenges and bring clean, renewable energy to the airline industry.