The search for green energy sources has become one of the most relevant topics, as technologies and devices used to generate energy through renewable resources are constantly being improved, such as solar panels. Combining suitability and power, this invention can be perceived as one of the greatest advances of recent times, not only for its beauty, but also for its power. According to some sources, this device can generate energy to power 20,000 homes. Despite this, some bizarre effects have been noticed following its installation, and here is everything we know about it.
An impressive structure capable of powering 20,000 homes
Solar energy is one of the most widespread forms of alternative energy in the world. Known for the facilities in its facilities, there is an enormous variety of devices used to capture sunlight and transform it into energy.
This green energy source is increasingly being researched by companies specialized in the solar energy industry. As a result, technological advances are constant and go beyond increasing the captured energy, also involving the components used to boost the performance, and recently, the design of solar panels.
With an ambitious purpose, South Korea joined the countries seeking to exploit solar energy as a green energy, and deployed a project that is both beautiful and extremely functional. Located at the surface of Hapcheon Dam Reservoir in South Gyeongsang Province’s Hapcheon County, 92,000 solar panels in the shape of plum blossoms are floating and producing energy enough to power 20,000 homes.
The amount of energy produced by this site is capable of providing power for 60,000 people
The project deployed at Hapcheon Dam follows a trend of many other countries that use solar panels with a natural design to generate energy while attracting people’s gaze with their beautiful shapes. With a 17-mile length, it is one of the biggest floating solar plants in the world, and it’s able to generate 41.5 megawatts. Considering the site was deployed in a relatively small county, the power of this structure is bizarre, and capable of generating energy enough to power 20,000 homes and benefits 60,000 people, which is far more than the total population of the county.
With the results obtained through these panels, South Korea believes that floating solar panels can help the country to become carbon neutral by 2050, helping the country to be free of the tradition of relying on its industrialized economy on imported fossil fuels. According to specialists, the floating panels will also help the country to generate the massive amount of renewable energy needed to meet its climate target.
With the success of this project, another floating panel site is being built
After the success of the Hapcheon Dam floating panel project, another site of floating solar panels has led to the commissioning process. This time it will be located at the North side of the country, in North Jaella, and is even more bizarre than the first one. According to the plans, this new site is expected to be the world’s largest floating solar power plant, spanning 11.6 square miles.
This project is expected to be deployed sometime in 2025, and once it is fully operational, the Saemangeum Floating Solar Plant will generate enough power to provide energy for 1 million homes. The offtake capacity will sit at 300MW.
Beautiful, powerful, but extremely expensive to be made: this is the reality of floating solar panels
Besides its power, capacity, and beauty, the flower-shaped solar panels are 18% more expensive than land-based projects, according to The World Bank. It is also dependent on advanced technology to work properly. Together with multiple socio-economic issues, these factors may pose a significant challenge to South Korea’s plans. At the same time, projects that combine natural design with advanced technology are gaining popularity worldwide. The majority of these projects are indeed made seeking urban use, but powerful devices like the floating solar flowers and the wind energy tree may be the future of green energy.