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California is building a floating solar farm in the Wine Country

Considering that California is one of the world leaders in solar power it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the state is behind a new plan to build a massive solar array on top of wastewater ponds. The project, which will be built in California’s Wine Country, will be built across six local wastewater ponds and will provide electricity for 3,000 homes when it comes online next year. 

California has long been on the cutting edge of solar power, and now it has what be its most interesting plan yet: a vast solar array floating on top of wastewater ponds. The project will be built in Sonoma County, which you may know better as wine country. Greentech reports that Sonoma Clean Power will build solar panels on docks across six of the local water utility’s wastewater ponds.The 12.5-megawatt installation will provide enough electricity for 3,000 homes when it is expected to come online next year. It will be the biggest floating solar farm in the U.S. Lately, floating solar farms have become a trendy idea around the world. Japan is building an even bigger one. India has a new one, too. Floating the solar panels over water has a dual advantage: The water provides natural cooling for the panels, and the panels prevent water evaporation.

What do you think?

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Written by Chastity Mansfield

I'm a writer, an amateur designer, and a collector of trinkets that nobody else wants. You can find me on Noozeez, and Twitter.

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  1. Floating Solar Power Systems are wonderful Ideas. And it’s very important to maintain effectively same direction and position on the water for floating solar plants. Because directional change of solar panels reduces electricity production. So floating solar plants also need the directional control mooring systems for their parked positions. Azimuth and position change of floating solar plants caused by wind, waves and external forces. Restoring Force Strengthened Mooring System for floating solar plants has been created in South Korea. This Mooring System generates Restoring Force immediately when floating solar plants are being rotated or moved on the water.

    In addition, you have to reduce vibration to install floating solar plants. Because, it can make micro-cracks to floating solar panels and the durability problem of floating solar plants. The risk of power loss in PV modules due to micro cracks is increasing. Vibrations caused by wind, waves and external forces. New Type Floating Body Stabilizer has been created in South Korea. The Floating Body Stabilizers generate drag force immediately when floating solar plants are being rolled, pitched and yawed on the water. Recently, Restoring Force Strengthened Mooring Systems and Floating Body Stabilizers have been used for floating solar plants in South Korea. You can see them in Ochang Dam, South Korea. I N I WORLD

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