ACCIONA Energia has installed a new PV floating system at the Sierra Brava reservoir in the Spanish city of Zorita as part of a pilot project to evaluate its performance.

The new structure, which consists of a two-millimeter-thick reinforced hydroelastic film, is the basis for 770 photovoltaic modules. The membrane has a proprietary mooring and anchoring system that gives it greater flexibility and resistance to strong waves and winds, making it suitable for use not only in reservoirs and swamps, but also at sea. In addition, the components are fixed at 0°, avoiding the "sail effect" during strong winds.

The new module follows five adjacent floating systems, and the company is studying the behavior and performance of different floating solar solutions.

Floating PV technologies like these have the potential to significantly accelerate the deployment of solar energy, as they allow plants to be built directly on the surface of different bodies of water, including the ocean. In addition, floating solar farms have certain advantages over land-based solar farms because they don't compete with land labeled for other uses, and they offer better performance due to the cooler temperatures of the panels. These facilities can also have a positive impact on the environment by reducing water evaporation and preventing excessive growth of algae and cyanobacteria.

The Sierra Brava floating solar plant has been operational since July 2020, becoming the first grid-connected floating photovoltaic facility in Spain. It serves as an experimental center for ACCIONA Energia, testing various floating technologies in real environments and gaining the necessary knowledge in construction, operations and maintenance, and environmental monitoring to expand commercial applications.

ACCIONA Energia's pilot project in the Sierra Brava is accompanied by various environmental monitoring projects for birds in the region, with the dual aim of protecting them and studying their interaction with such facilities. In addition, ACCIONA Energia has taken a number of measures to promote the presence and conservation of the local fauna, such as the installation of two floating platforms to encourage bird breeding and the placement of 20 nesting boxes for protected species. Many social impact management and outreach activities have also been undertaken to raise awareness of the benefits of renewable energy in local schools and municipal Red Cross groups. Editor/Xu Shengpeng