Page 12 - AW MayJune 19

WORLD NEWS

Largest floating solar power system in

California

nnovators in floating solar power systems, and officials for The floating solar project will cover only 22 percent of
Ithe California town of Windsor have started construction the available water surface area of the pond. It will have
of what will be the largest floating solar power system in no impact on the biology of the pond and will reduce
the state. water loss from evaporation and inhibit algae growth. The
The floating solar array by Ciel & Terre USA, will be state-of-the-art floating solar design can be expanded for
installed on the town’s largest recycled water storage pond extra capacity and will not affect plant operations while
and is expected to meet 90 percent of the town’s water it is being installed.
treatment and pump facilities’ energy needs. Said Craig Gini, Vice President and Renewables
The Ciel et Terre solar installation will consist of 4,959 (360 General Manager for Collins Electrical Company Inc.
W) high-output solar panels mounted atop the company’s “Floating solar is an excellent alternative to conventional
patented Hydrelio floating solar racking system. The 1.78- solar arrays and it’s simpler and faster to install. We expect
MW system will generate power for the Windsor Wastewater more of our California customers will be installing floating
Reclamation Facility, Public Works Corporation Yard, and solar systems in the coming months.”
the Geysers pump station, delivering approximately Using manmade bodies of water to host floating solar
90 percent of the water reclamation facilities’ power systems provides more efficient energy production due
requirements while saving about 30 percent of the to its cooling effect on the system, while eliminating the
electricity cost based on the facilities’ existing grid service. need to use expensive real estate. The floating array also
The array will be floated in the pond and tethered to the reduces water movement to minimize erosion and reduce
shore, making it resistant to wind and seismic loads. evaporation.
The project is being developed and construction The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) estimates
financed by Ciel et Terre, which has entered into a 25-year that floating solar systems could meet 10 percent of the
lease and power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Town United States electricity needs. AW
of Windsor to provide discounted
clean energy. The floating solar
system will allow Windsor to better
control its electrical costs in the face
of rising utility prices.
Eva Pauly-Bowles, Representative
Director for Ciel & Terre USA, Inc.
said by entering into a PPA, the town
can substantially reduce its energy
overhead without any investment.
“Floating solar is becoming an
attractive energy alternative for
municipalities seeking to reduce
operating costs and preserve valuable
land for other developments.” She
added
Said Toni Bertolero, Town of
Windsor Public Works Director, ““Our
water reclamation and corporation
yard facilities currently account for
40 percent of the town’s greenhouse
gas emission. Installation of this new
floating solar array will reduce our
reliance on energy-polluting sources
by an estimated 350 metric tons of
CO2 per year, a significant step to
achieve our Climate Action Plan
emission reduction goals.”

10 MAY/JUNE 2019 Asian Water