The Briefing Room

General Category => Science, Technology and Knowledge => Energy => Topic started by: IsailedawayfromFR on February 19, 2018, 07:15:16 pm

Title: Netherlands to Build First Solar Farm That Will Float in the Ocean
Post by: IsailedawayfromFR on February 19, 2018, 07:15:16 pm: Quote
The Netherlands has a problem. Thereâ€™s no space in the country to put a giant solar farm. Land is at a premium in the Low Countries, and so the cost of building large solar farms is much higher than practically anywhere else in the world. So far, this trouble has caused the Netherlands to lag behind other countries when it comes to transitioning to renewable energy.

As a solution, the Netherlands is considering building its solar farms on the surface of the ocean. Reuters is reporting that an offshore seaweed farm will be turned into a floating solar farm over the next three years, paving the way for a solar-powered Dutch future.

The project will begin with a test, a 30 square meter solar farm about nine miles off the coast of the Hague. The farm will be positioned between two existing offshore wind turbines and connected to the same cables, meaning the project wonâ€™t require any additional infrastructure.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a18197171/netherlands-to-build-a-solar-farm-that-will-float-in-the-ocean/?src=nl&mag=pop&list=nl_pnl_news&date=021918 (https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a18197171/netherlands-to-build-a-solar-farm-that-will-float-in-the-ocean/?src=nl&mag=pop&list=nl_pnl_news&date=021918)
Can anybody think of something that can wrong here or an unintended consequence of placing it here?
Title: Re: Netherlands to Build First Solar Farm That Will Float in the Ocean
Post by: thackney on February 19, 2018, 08:03:06 pm: I put solar (usually combination wind/solar) units on remote offshore platforms for years.
Title: Re: Netherlands to Build First Solar Farm That Will Float in the Ocean
Post by: IsailedawayfromFR on February 20, 2018, 02:43:36 pm: Quote from: thackney on February 19, 2018, 08:03:06 pm
I put solar (usually combination wind/solar) units on remote offshore platforms for years.
Like this?(https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/gettyimages-693650314-1518721125.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.814xh;0,0.186xh&resize=980:*)

This does seem a bit more dramatic than simply using a solar grid to assist on a platform.

What I read they are envisioning a huge solar farm floating in the water to power communities.

Huges swaths of water will have considerable changes in temperature and sunlight penetration, which is likely to affect life in the ocean.

Think windmills that chop up bird life as an example.
Title: Re: Netherlands to Build First Solar Farm That Will Float in the Ocean
Post by: Sanguine on February 20, 2018, 03:18:50 pm: Because the Netherlands has so much solar? **nononono*