In the pursuit of more efficient and adaptable solar energy solutions, Portuguese company SolarisFloat is pioneering the development of floating solar panels. The solar panels can dynamically track sunlight, potentially revolutionizing renewable energy generation.

This approach aims to address the inherent limitation of solar panels, particularly in cloudy weather, where they typically generate only 10%-25% of their maximum capacity on average.

The concept behind SolarisFloat’s technology involves creating floating solar farm islands equipped with electric engines that enable them to orient themselves to follow the sun’s rays throughout the day.

These islands feature a variety of axis designs for solar panels, allowing for optimal angling to capture sunlight effectively. These features occupy only a small fraction — about less than half a percent — of the total energy produced by the solar panels.

“More people will know that floating solar exists,” said Antonio Duarte, the lead technical engineer at SolarisFloat. “It’s an opportunity and we have to take those opportunities to show the world that things can change and things are possible.”

Beyond enhancing energy generation, SolarisFloat emphasizes additional environmental benefits of its technology, such as reducing water evaporation by up to 60% and mitigating harmful algae growth, thanks to the shadows cast on the water’s surface.

One floating solar farm has already been installed in the Netherlands. It covers an area of 15,543 square feet, comparable to the size of an NHL hockey rink, and generates a peak power of 73 kilowatts.

“To be sustainable, you have to be responsible,” Duarte said. “If you don’t spoil the lake itself, life will continue on the lake. You can share the water with people and with the environment, but you can also produce energy.”

While the current implementation may seem space-intensive for its output, experts foresee vast potential in this technology. Studies done at the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore suggest that covering just 10% of man-made reservoirs worldwide with floating solar farms could yield an installed capacity of 20 terawatts. Currently, the planet as a whole uses about 17.7 terawatts of energy annually.

Floating solar farms are garnering praise from advocates of green energy for their ability to mitigate land use concerns associated with traditional solar installations. Compared to non-renewable energy sources like coal and fossil fuels, solar farms require substantially less land.

According to research by Leiden University, solar farms need up to 45 times more land than coal plants and up to 100 times more land than fossil fuel power stations to produce equivalent energy output.

“Renewable energy production is going to increase all around the world,” Duarte said. “Solar installations are going to increase much more on water than land. Why? Because land is becoming a very precious asset.”

Analysts predict a promising future for floating solar technology, with demand expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. A Transparency Market report forecasts a yearly growth rate of 43% over the next decade, projecting the industry’s value to reach $24.5 billion by 2031.