Duke Energy’s first floating solar project in Florida is now producing clean, renewable energy while helping the company better understand the capabilities of innovative clean energy technologies to benefit the state.
The almost 1MW floating solar array features more than 1,800 solar panels that float on top of 2 acres of water surface on an existing cooling pond at the Duke Energy Hines Energy Complex in Bartow.
The bifacial solar panels absorb light from both sides, which can produce 10%-20% more power than their single-sided counterparts.
Crews assembled the module floating system on land in segments before securing it with anchors in the water.
The project took approximately six months to construct and connect to the grid.
The pilot is part of Duke Energy’s Vision Florida programme, which is designed to test innovative projects such as green hydrogen, hydrogen produced from sources other than fossil fuels, and various battery energy storage technologies, to prepare the power grid for a cleaner energy future.
Last month, the company announced plans to build a one-of-its-kind green hydrogen production and storage system connected to its existing solar site in Volusia County.
Duke Energy Florida state president Melissa Seixas said: “We are committed to building a smarter, cleaner energy future for our customers, while continuing to look for ways to maintain affordability and reliability.
“By exploring alternative solutions on a smaller scale and on our own property, we are maximizing the space and expanding our use and knowledge of innovative emission free technologies that will move us forward on our path to net-zero carbon emissions.”
Duke Energy has been harnessing the power of the sun and advancing solar technologies in Florida since the late 1980s.
The company plans to have 25 grid-tied solar power plants in operation in 2024.
The sites will provide about 1500MW of emission-free generation and benefit all of the company’s 1.9 million Florida customers.
As a result of the company’s continued commitment to solar investments, Duke Energy is already passing approximately US$56m of corporate tax savings annually to Florida customers from the Inflation Reduction Act.