Largest floating PV plant opens in Japan
Ciel et Terre Japan, Subsidiary of Ciel et Terre International , a French innovative solar company, has announced the construction of the largest worldwide floating PV power plant of 1,157 kWp using its Hydrelio technology. It will be the first Mega solar floating PV power plant at this industrial scale in Japan.
The plant is built with C&T's partner West Holdings, a solar developer and operator in Japan, after winning the Okegawa City tender, (Saitma pref.), for turning into a green energy field its rain water regulation pond while conserving land and water.
This 1.157 MWp facility will be producing around 1,500,000 kWh per annum, and is equivalent to 360 typical solar household systems.
Hydrelio technology allows utility scale projects to become a reality without using farmland, and appears as a bankable proven technology in areas subjected to typhoons and earthquakes. Floating PV is a particularly adapted answer the lack of space in Japan for implementing solar projects without using productive agricultural land or natural spaces, thanks to the very many available irrigation lakes throughout all regions of Japan.
Hydrelio floating system also minimizes seismic risks and is very cost competitive compared to ground mounted systems. Another advantage of this environmental friendly solution is the reduction of evaporation and algal blooms. Ciel et Terre and West Holdings are working together on several other floating projects in Japan.