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https://theconversation.com/from-waste-to-power-how-floating-solar-panels-on-wastewater-ponds-could-help-solve-nzs-electricity-security-crisis-237455>
"Wastewater ponds may seem an unlikely place to look for solutions to New
Zealand’s electricity security crisis. But their underutilised surfaces could
help tackle two problems at once – high power prices and algal growth.
Floating solar panels on wastewater ponds offer a multifaceted answer. They
generate renewable energy, improve water quality in the treatment ponds and
reduce costs.
Leading this approach is the 2020 installation of New Zealand’s first floating
solar array at the Rosedale wastewater treatment plant in Auckland. This
project demonstrates how New Zealand could double the country’s power supply
without requiring additional land. It serves as a test for future deployments
on other reservoirs and dams.
The project comprises 2,700 solar panels and 4,000 floating pontoons. It covers
one hectare of the treatment pond, making excellent use of a marginal land
asset in a dense urban environment.
The floating solar array generates 1,040 kilowatts of electricity and reduces
145 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. It also saves NZ$4.5 million in
electricity costs per year. The electricity it generates, alongside biogas
co-generation, meets 25% of the plant’s energy needs.
The project represents the first use of floating solar and the first
megawatt-sized solar project in the country. As energy prices soar and
environmental pressures mount, it is time to start exploring innovative
solutions with the resources we already have."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
