Solarplaza, NL, Name QE2 Floating Solar Array 3rd Largest in the World!
In March 2016, Lightsource installed Europe’s largest ever solar PV system on a deep body of water. With a surface area of 57,000 square meters, and containing 23,046 solar panels on the surface of the Queen Elizabeth II reservoir in Surrey, powering Thames Water via private wire, this floating solar farm is the third largest on the planet, according to Solarplaza.
More and more PV plants across the world are being installed on water. Only three floating solar plants had ever been built before 2014. Over the past two years this number has grown to over 70 plants spread across the world, which has led many people to believe that this is the potential start of a new PV boom. These so called ‘floating solar systems’ (or ‘floatovoltaics’) are an appropriate solution to situations where roof and/or ground space is limited. But just how big is this niche? Where are these floating plants located and what is their size?
Rank | Size (kw) | Name of reservior (lake) / Name of Plant | Country | City/Province | Operating from |
1 | 20000 | Coal mining subsidence area of Huainan City | China | Anhui Province | April, 2016 |
2 | 7500 | Kawashima Taiyou to shizen no megumi Solarpark | Japan | Saitama | October, 2015 |
3 | 6338 | Queen Elizabeth II reservoir | UK | London | March, 2016 |
4 | 3000 | Otae Province | South Korea | Sangju City Gyeongsang Bukdo | October, 2015 |
5 | 3000 | Jipyeong Province | South Korea | Sangju City Gyeongsang Bukdo | October, 2015 |
6 | 2991 | Godley Reservoir Floating Solar PV | UK | Godley | January, 2016 |
7 | 2449 | Tsuga Ike | Japan | Mie | August, 2016 |
8 | 2398 | Sohara Ike | Japan | Mie | March, 2016 |
9 | 2313 | Sakasama Ike | Japan | Hyogo | April, 2015 |
10 | 2000 | Reservior in Kumagaya city | Japan | Saitama | December, 2014 |
11 | 2000 | Kinuura Lumberyard | Japan | Aichi | February, 2016 |
12 | 2000 | Yado Ooike (Sun Lakes Yado) | Japan | Hyogo | January, 2016 |
13 | 1751 | Hirono Shinike | Japan | Hyogo | September, 2016 |
14 | 1708 | Yakenoike | Japan | Hyogo | July, 2016 |
15 | 1700 | Nishi Hiraike | Japan | Hyogo | April, 2015 |
Read the full article here
Related news
29 Apr, 2024
Financing of €315.34 million for Lightsource bp 560MWp solar project in Greece
This deal marks a key milestone for Lightsource bp’s growth in Europe and in Greece.
29 Apr, 2024
Lightsource bp celebrates World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2024
We’re celebrating World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2024, exploring the impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health.
26 Apr, 2024
Be the change: Lightsource Foundation shortlisted for three awards
The Lightsource Foundation has been shortlisted for three awards at both the Business Charity Awards, and Better Society Awards.
25 Apr, 2024
Experts in the field: Agriculture and solar working together
The mutually beneficial relationship between solar energy and agriculture can take many different forms.
24 Apr, 2024
Behind the scenes at Lightsource bp’s first battery energy storage project
Our Tiln battery project has now been energised. Here’s why this is a key milestone in our mission to build a renewable-powered grid.
19 Apr, 2024
Brazil’s Milagres Solar ranked in the top 10 for energy generation
Among the 13GW of utility-scale solar farms in operation in Brazil, two of Lightsource bp’s Milagres solar farms have ranked in the top 10 for renewable energy generation.
19 Apr, 2024
What is Biodiversity Net Gain, and how will it help nature?
Nature is vanishing at an alarming rate. This is no less than a crisis, with biodiversity loss affecting public health, food security, and efforts to curb climate change.
16 Apr, 2024
Do solar panels work on cloudy days?
Solar panels continue to generate renewable electricity even on gloomy days, but how does this work and what effect does cloud have on generation?
09 Apr, 2024
World Economic Forum brief: Clean energy as a catalyst for a nature-positive energy transition
World Economic Forum brief examining how building renewable energy can help biodiversity and leave ecosystems in better shape than they found them.
08 Apr, 2024
Solar summits to task force – Lightsource bp’s 2024 Q1 event highlights
We hit the ground running to kick off 2024 at Lightsource bp. Here's a glimpse of the highlights from a range of events we have been a part of so far.