[ECO]How Floating Solar Panels can Serve Africa’s Energy Needs

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How floating solar panels can serve *******’s energy needs.

A new study has found that floating solar panels can serve many ******** countries’ energy needs.

******* is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing populations, with energy demand expected to skyrocket over the coming decades. However, millions of people across the continent still lack access to reliable electricity. The traditional methods of expanding energy infrastructure, such as building large power plants or increasing fossil fuel use, come with significant environmental and social costs. As

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seeks cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions, floating solar photovoltaics or floating solar panels are becoming a viable alternative.

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has long been recognized as a key resource in *******. With vast amounts of sunshine across the continent, particularly in regions such as East ******* and Southern *******,

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represents an abundant and underutilized resource. Floating solar takes this further by utilizing water bodies like lakes, dams, and reservoirs to generate energy without competing for land.

Floating solar panels are photovoltaic systems mounted on platforms that allow them to float on water. These systems can be deployed on various water surfaces, from man-made reservoirs to natural lakes. Being on water helps keep the floating solar panels cool, and they produce more electricity than land-based solar panels and may last longer.

Their design allows them to generate electricity like traditional land-based solar panels by converting sunlight into usable energy. However, floating solar panels have unique benefits, making them particularly attractive for *******.

One of the most significant advantages of floating solar panels is that they do not require large land areas to be installed. This is a significant benefit for *******, where land is vital for agriculture, urban development, and conservation. Earlier this year, Ghana launched 5 megawatts of West *******’s largest floating solar plant, the largest solar farm in *******.

By

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on water bodies, ******** nations can avoid the competition for land use, freeing up valuable space for other essential activities. This is particularly important in regions with dense populations or arable land shortages. Additionally, many water bodies where floating solar panels would be installed, such as dams and reservoirs, are already being used for other purposes, like irrigation and drinking water storage, making integrating solar technology more feasible.

Another significant benefit of floating solar panels is their ability to reduce water evaporation. In hot climates, water bodies such as reservoirs often lose substantial amounts of water to evaporation, which can strain already scarce water resources. By covering portions of these water bodies with solar panels, the panels provide shade and help reduce the evaporation rate.

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wanted to know how much energy could be produced by floating solar panels. They used the Global Solar Energy Estimator tool to calculate the energy solar panels could generate in 1 million bodies of water worldwide, in addition to data about sunlight and air temperatures and satellite images of bodies of water, to generate their results.

They found that Rwanda and Ethiopia could generate a lot more energy from these systems than they currently use, with Rwanda generating 237% of its current total energy needs and Ethiopia generating 237%. 

The researchers also found that over 1900 water bodies across ******* could be used to float solar panel systems.  

Floating

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offer a promising solution to *******’s energy challenges. They provide a sustainable and land-efficient way to harness the continent’s abundant solar resources. By embracing this innovative technology, ******** nations have the opportunity to meet their growing energy needs and create a more sustainable and prosperous future for their people.

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