Hello fellow solar enthusiasts!
As an individual blessed with the sun’s wonderful energy, I’m always excited to share new developments about the potential of solar for home, commercial, or even big infrastructural projects. This time, let’s dive deep into some fascinating analysis coming from sunny Puerto Rico.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a renowned powerhouse in renewable energy research, recently conducted a study to determine the prospective opportunities for solar power in Puerto Rico. They discovered that five reservoirs in Puerto Rico have the potential to host 596 MW of floating solar! That’s a whopping amount of renewable energy. It’s noteworthy to mention though, that the costs of floating solar would likely be about 25% higher than ground-mounted ones, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s still a fantastic development.
Beyond reservoirs, the study identified other attractive spots for solar projects including brownfields, closed landfills, and even the grounds of fossil generating plants once they’re decommissioned. In total, the report pointed out the technical potential for 1–2.5 GW of solar across 160 contaminated sites, 636 MW of floating solar on 55 water bodies, and 213 MW of solar on 41 closed landfills.
This is an insightful display of where the solar industry can expand. Solar companies, often faced with the challenge of finding suitable sites for installation, now have an array of intriguing locations available for their projects. This NREL analysis helps shed light on how, with careful planning and site selection, solar panels for your home, or even massive solar arrays for home or commercial use, can be implemented in ways that maximize both energy production and environmental conservation.
And here’s a stat that absolutely astounds me – Puerto Rico’s residential buildings have the “technical potential” for 20.4 GW-dc of rooftop solar! To put that into perspective, they were at 680 MW of rooftop solar as of last October. This indicates there’s still an immense untapped potential waiting to be harnessed.
This analysis gives some insightful takeaway – the rise of solar isn’t only limited to a rooftop experience. It transcends to wider and more vast spaces, showcasing a robust ability to adapt and coexist with different landscapes.
Bear in mind, though; technical potential doesn’t necessarily reflect economic viability. Nonetheless, it’s a promising start and fuel for thought that can drive the necessary action from solar companies and local governments needed to tap into this solar gold mine.
So, what have you learned today? It’s not just about having solar panels for your home, or any premises for that matter. It’s about understanding the extent to which solar power can truly transform a society into a green, sustainable future. Let’s keep that sunny spirit alive as we continue to learn more about the potential of solar. Stay solar, friends!
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/06/11/five-puerto-rico-reservoirs-could-host-596-mw-of-floating-solar/
