Floating photovoltaic energy is making a strong impact on the renewable energy sector and promises to be one of the key technologies for diversifying electricity generation in the coming years. More and more countries and companies are investing in installing solar panels on reservoirs, lakes, irrigation ponds, and even in marine environments, opening up new possibilities for harnessing water surfaces and saving land space.
Currently, floating solar power is a global phenomenon , with leading projects in Europe, Asia, and Latin America totaling hundreds of megawatts of installed capacity, and growth forecasts indicating annual expansion of around 22%. International organizations and industry associations, such as SolarPower Europe, estimate that the technical potential exceeds 23.000 GWp if existing reservoirs around the world were utilized.
Sustained growth and potential in Europe and Spain
Europe is one of the continents where floating photovoltaics has generated the most excitement. SolarPower Europe estimates that if only one-tenth of Europe's reservoir surface area were utilized , an installed capacity of 157 GW could be achieved, capable of supplying up to 6% of Europe's energy consumption. Sweden, Finland, and Spain lead the forecasts thanks to the size of their reservoirs and the availability of water resources.
In Spain, the first large-scale operational installation was the Sierra Brava plant in Cáceres, which, with 1,37 MW and Acciona EnergÃa technology, demonstrated the potential of this type of solution on just 0,07% of the reservoir's surface area. Subsequently, innovation has continued with new systems, such as hydroelastic membranes that enhance the durability and adaptability of the platforms to waves and wind.
Other regions such as Extremadura, the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, and Murcia have developed multi-megawatt plants in irrigation and consumer reservoirs, using specialized technologies such as Isifloating and Ciel&Terre, and pursuing both agricultural energy cost reduction and generation for self-consumption and public grids. In the Community of Madrid, a 1,7 MW floating plant was also inaugurated on the reservoir of the Santa LucÃa hydroelectric plant.
In Catalonia, the Alfés project in Lleida stands out, pioneering the combination of irrigation generation and environmental protection, after receiving the relevant authorizations. Smaller initiatives are also underway across the country, reflecting the growing interest in this solution.
Innovation and sustainability in the marine environment
The most significant advances in the sector are occurring in the adaptation of floating photovoltaics to marine environments. The Basque project Ekiocean has paved the way in Spain , focusing two years of research on developing specific solutions for the coastline and the open sea. One of its main achievements has been the analysis of new designs that better withstand waves and wind, while also ensuring the stability and efficiency of solar modules in the face of the challenges of the marine environment.
The research includes the use of fiber-reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) and new bio-based coatings, which increase durability and reduce organism adhesion. These innovations improve the lifespan and reduce the environmental impact of platforms in saline environments.
Ekiocean has collaborated with universities and technology centers in the development and testing of prototypes in wave channels and pilot platforms such as Mutriku, validating the results under real-world conditions and offering methodologies to evaluate the performance and degradation of floating systems.
Furthermore, progress has been made in environmental planning and digitalization , creating tools to identify suitable sites, taking into account ecological and technical variables. The project has also served to bring together companies in the energy sector with researchers, sharing experiences on the challenges and opportunities of marine floating voltages.
Flagship plants and international expansion of fleets
The deployment of floating solar energy is global and has examples on every continent. Europe boasts cutting-edge installations , such as the Les Ilots Blandin plant in France (74,3 MW on former gravel pits), or the Cottbuser Ostsee plant in Germany (21 MW on an artificial mine lake), as well as innovative solutions like the first vertical floating photovoltaic plant inaugurated in Bavaria.
Also noteworthy are initiatives combined with offshore wind power, such as the Nautical Sunrise project in the Netherlands , which explores the viability of solar energy at sea integrated with wind farms, or the Alqueva park in Portugal, a pioneer in combining storage with batteries on the surface of a reservoir.
Asia leads the world ranking with giants like the Cirata plant in Indonesia (192 MWp and 340.000 panels), which supplies 50.000 homes and has demonstrated the value of transferring knowledge and experience in project development. China, India, and Vietnam account for most of the world's installed capacity, using large reservoirs and artificial lakes, while Japan and South Korea are advancing with projects adapted to their local conditions.
In Latin America, countries like Paraguay are taking the first steps with pilot projects on hydroelectric reservoirs , such as the Itaipu reservoir, which seeks to diversify the energy matrix and gain experience for future expansions.
Advantages and challenges of floating solar energy
Floating photovoltaic systems offer numerous advantages over land-based installations. By occupying unused water surfaces, they free up agricultural land and reduce conflicts with other land uses. The presence of water helps cool the panels, increasing their efficiency by up to 10-12% according to some studies, and extending their lifespan. Furthermore, they reduce water evaporation and algae growth , and can minimize the environmental impact compared to large-scale ground-based installations.
Integration with existing infrastructure, such as hydroelectric plants, facilitates their connection and generates synergies between different renewable energy sources, optimizing resources and enabling more efficient management of the electrical grid.
However, the technology still faces technical and regulatory challenges, especially in the marine environment, where conditions are more demanding and constant innovation in materials and design is required. Ensuring proper environmental planning is also crucial to avoid impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
The development of sustainable business models, the active participation of energy companies, and public-private collaboration will be crucial to consolidating fleet voltage as a competitive and resilient option.
Floating photovoltaics is advancing rapidly and is emerging as a strategic alternative in the context of the global energy transition. As technical challenges are overcome and new projects become more widespread, floating photovoltaics will make it possible to better utilize water resources, reduce land use, and promote clean and sustainable energy production worldwide.
