Duke Energy has begun construction on a floating solar project at its Hines Energy Complex in Bartow.
The two-acre pilot on the water will include 1,800 solar modules that can produce nearly 1 megawatt of electricity and about 1 million kilowatt-hours annually.
The floating array at 7700 County Road 555 in Bartow will be installed starting this month on an existing 1,200-acre cooling pond, which was once a phosphate mining pit. At peak output, the array could generate enough electricity to power nearly 100 local homes.
At a groundbreaking on Monday, Shayna White, Duke’s Florida project manager, said the small-scale pilot on Duke Property will be a test to determine if the technology behind floating solar arrays has better efficiency and capabilities than land-based solar farms.
“The water should have a cooling effect to help them operate more efficiently,” White said, explaining cooler solar panels are more efficient energy producers.
“We’re also doing bifacial modules so they’ll be picking up energy from the top and the bottom of the module as the Sun is reflecting off the water,“ she said.
“On a larger scale, it would in theory decrease evaporation in the pond” because the panels shade the water from sunlight, but she only expects that to be a small impact with this small of a pilot array.
The solar modules will rest on rectangular floating dock-like bases, she said. The solar panels will be fixed and facing south as they collect sunlight. They should be producing power by mid-July to early-August.
“The cooling pond is essentially a radiator for the plant. It’s a great place to start a pilot project like this,” said Tommy Oneal, Duke Energy Florida’s environmental specialist.
The construction phase of the project will employ about 15 workers for up to six months.
“We’re excited to get hands-on experience with Duke Energy Florida’s first floating solar project at one of our own power plant sites,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president, in a recent press release.
I would be curious as to the affect on water life, such as fish, vegetation, and the general eco system. I’m not sure if blocking the natural sunlight with the floating solar panels would have a high impact or not.