Researchers in Canada have demonstrated that floating solar panels can operate effectively through harsh winter conditions, overcoming one of the key obstacles limiting the adoption of floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems in cold climates, tells Tech Xplore. The findings, published in Applied Energy, show that a novel foam-based floating solar platform remained operational throughout an Ontario winter while maintaining ice-free conditions and generating clean electricity.
Floating solar installations are gaining attention as a way to expand renewable energy generation without competing for valuable agricultural land or natural habitats. However, concerns about ice formation on lakes, ponds, and reservoirs have raised questions about the durability and performance of these systems in northern regions. Computer models have suggested that thick ice could place significant stress on floating structures and potentially damage them.
To address this challenge, researchers at Western University developed a floating solar design that replaces conventional plastic pontoons with waterproof foam sheets supporting flexible solar panels. The low-profile configuration reduces exposure to wind and improves stability. The team also incorporated an air-bubbler system beneath the platform. Air pumped from the bottom of the pond creates rising bubbles that carry relatively warmer water upward, preventing ice from forming around the panels.
The researchers deployed a 7-kilowatt system on a stormwater pond and monitored its performance for a full year. The air-bubbler successfully maintained open water around the array throughout winter while consuming only a small fraction of the system’s annual energy output. Over the test period, the installation produced 7.7 megawatt-hours of electricity and generated approximately 2.7% more energy than a reference floating solar system used for comparison.
Beyond electricity production, the floating panels provided environmental benefits by reducing water evaporation. The researchers estimate that covering half of a similar pond could conserve nearly 927 cubic meters of water annually. The study concludes that foam-based floating solar technology offers a promising pathway for renewable energy deployment in cold regions and warrants further testing at larger scales and across different water bodies.