Asia flirts with floating solar and wind platforms

Asia flirts with floating solar and wind platforms

When Singapore unveiled the latest experiment in renewable energy, it was a
row of solar panels floating in a major reservoir. The world's largest
floating solar panel testbed located at Tengeh Reservoir will produce 1
megawatt (MW) of energy, enough to power 250 four-room basic flats for a
year.

The Singapore floating testbed is the largest globally in terms of how much
power it can produce and the number of systems being tested, and, in a way,
represents Asia's unsinkable tenacity to try out promising renewable energy
innovations.

"Floating photovoltaic systems, those installed over our water bodies, not
only help to overcome land constraints, but also have the potential to
reduce evaporative losses from our reservoirs," says Masagos Zulkifli,
Singapore's Environment and Water Resources Minister.

Installing solar panels over water can improve their efficiency due to the
beneficial cooling effect and subsequent increase in energy yield as opposed
to solar panels that become too hot. Should the pilot prove to be
economically viable and environmentally sustainable, authorities have
signalled their intent to explore a wider deployment of such floating solar
photovoltaic systems.

The floating photovoltaic testbed also serves as an entry point to bring in
a wealth of new renewable energy firms to Singapore. Eight companies are
currently involved in the testbed, including large corporations from Japan
and Italy.

"We want them to establish their business hubs in Singapore after which they
will then export the know-how from Singapore - from doing the innovation
right in Singapore," says Goh Chee Kiong, Economic Development Board
Executive Director for Cleantech.

Across Southeast Asia, there are also efforts to improve new floating
platforms for wind.

Dr. Carlos Wong, chairman at CBJ Ocean Platform Engineering Corp., for
example, is making the case for the introduction of a new floating platform
that carries multiple wind turbines that will benefit the isolated islands
of Southeast Asian countries.

"The floating platform costs much less than the current offshore wind farm
due to its simple floating design without piling and the ability to
self-orient towards the wind without the need of electric motor to drive the
platform," says Wong. "The platform is recommended to be in small sizes so
that its installation and maintenance can be handed by local staff."

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://asian-power.com/project/news/asia-flirts-floating-solar-and-wind-plat
forms

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com