Thailand close to completing huge floating solar farm

[Muhendis]

This is located in Ubon.

 

Thailand is close to completing one the world's biggest hydro-floating solar hybrid projects on the surface of a dam, part of steps towards boosting renewable energy production after years of criticism for reliance on fossil fuels.

Over 144,000 units of solar panels are being installed on a reservoir in the northeast province of Ubon Ratchathani, where workers are completing the last of seven solar farms covering 121 hectares of water area.

Authorities are aiming to complete the project in June.

The state-run Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand says the pilot project is one of the world's largest hybrid hydro-solar power ventures. It aims to replicate it at eight more dams over the next 16 years.

Thailand has long relied on coal for its power, but plans for new coal-fired projects have been met with opposition over health and environmental risks, including two proposed southern coal plants shelved in 2018.

The country is aiming to draw 35% of its energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2037, according to its latest Power Development Plan.

Since November, EGAT has been putting together floating solar platforms at the Sirindhorn dam, one of the country's largest hydropower dams, which it says should have capacity to generate 45 megawatts of power.

An Energy Management System will be used to switch between solar and hydropower, depending on which has more strength to generate electricity, a hybrid system project chief Chanin Saleechan said allows continuous power generation.

https://www.rte.ie/news/newslens/2021/0420/1210916-thailand-solar/

Source: Reuters

[Crossy]

An off-topic post has been removed.

 

[phetphet]

I wonder how they overcome rising and falling of the water level above the dam. Moveable panels?

[Muhendis]

The big question for me is;

What now lies at the bottom of the reservoir?

Nuts, bolts, screwdrivers, spanners and the occasional panel or two? 

Answering my own question.

Probably not a lot as they seem to assemble everything then float it into place for the final connection.

[Crossy]

These lakes can get pretty rough in a blow, and those panels being raised from the water surface could be a magnet for lightning.

 

What about the wildlife under the panels, zero light getting through could lead to nasty anaerobics getting going.

 

We shall see how they do.

[Muhendis]

Yes. Those pontoons look a bit flimsy and the panels too close to the water especially when you look at others https://www.power-technology.com/features/worlds-biggest-floating-solar-farms/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

[from the home of CC]

As long as Thailand doesn't turn this into a mess like in Europe/UK. It's all ok to crow that you're 'green' as long as you don't do it at the ecological expense of poorer countries - history repeating endlessly imo.. 

 

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02991-1