As a part of the Clean Energy Demonstration Center, Tampa Electric Company (TEC) has developed a floating solar project, which consists of approximately 1 MW AC (1.3 MWs DC) using First Solar 380w Series 6 photovoltaic modules. TEC is placing the total array (approximately 240 feet x 350 feet) on an existing retention pond which is an active part of existing power plant operation. The 1 MW Floating Solar Demonstration project will be monitored and evaluated for performance, environmental effects, operational ease, maintenance requirements, and overall cost effectiveness. Some of this evaluation will be done through a partnership with a local university, which designed a monitoring and logging system to conduct ongoing data collection. The university is operating under a Grant with the Department of Energy to quantify the benefits of Floating Solar PV and have agreed to utilize the TEC Floating Solar site as its testing site. After a period of operation, the project seeks to evaluate the following: • Increased solar panel output through the effect of evaporation and cooling of the panels. • Increased performance and output through the ability to rotate rows or the array from a fixed orientation to a movable one from 160 degrees to 220 degrees, if desired. • Decreased evaporation over the water to demonstrate effectiveness in decreasing evaporation on ponds and lakes used for fresh water supply for both farms and municipal water systems. • Decreased algal growth in water areas with floating solar. (The array covers less than one-half of the surface area of the retention pond.) • Demonstration of a reduced installation cost, labor cost, and time to deploy. • Ability to develop unutilized water areas in Florida and elsewhere as an alternative to high land acquisition cost. • Demonstration of reduced maintenance costs as well as vulnerability to high wind events. The results of the initial period of operation will be shared as a part of the presentation.
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