’Limitless’ Energy Possible From Floating Solar Panels

Research suggests that vast arrays of solar panels floating on calm equatorial seas could offer unlimited solar energy to densely populated regions in Southeast Asia and West Africa. The study highlights Indonesia’s potential to generate approximately 35,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar energy annually, equivalent to current global electricity production. Offshore floating solar panels in these calm regions would require relatively inexpensive engineering structures for protection. Such panels can also be deployed on inland lakes and reservoirs. High-resolution heat maps identify Indonesia and equatorial West Africa as having significant potential for offshore floating solar arrays. The offshore floating solar industry is emerging, poised to contribute significantly to the energy mix in equatorial regions by mid-century, benefiting about a billion people in these areas.