The challenge of winter for floating solar panels : our solutions for year-round performance

The challenges of floating solar power plant in winter

Floating solar plants have many advantages, however they face several challenges, particularly in winter, which have a direct impact on energy efficiency.

The main challenge: Ice and snow

The efficiency of floating solar can be compromised by several factors:

• When panels are installed in cold area, it happened that the amount of sunlight may be insufficient due to the shortness of the days and the weather conditions. This reduction of sunlight creates shortfall in the energy yield.
• Then, formation of frost creates an insulating layer on the surface of the solar panels, which reduces light transmission.
• Moreover, the weight of snow, ice and frost brings other challenges to the structure of anchoring systems and might increase the risk of component deterioration.

High winds challenges

Ice and snow are not the only drawbacks during winter, in fact, high winds represent an important risk of damage and disruption for the anchoring systems and the mooring lines. High winds often generate wave which, when they are huge exert stress, friction, and millions of bending cycles on floating solar structures, causing material fatigue. That’s why it is important to carry out environmental studies beforehand, including wind and waves studies to avoid unnecessary energy losses. Discover how we ensure products reliability :

Our solutions against ice and snow at Ciel & Terre International:

In regions or countries with very cold winter, it is very common to see that waterbodies freeze over and might have to deal with a significant snow accumulation. At Ciel & Terre International, we wanted to be sure our floating solar racking system would perform as expected in such cold, icy and snowy conditions.

Lab testing and field observations

Floating solar systems are compatible with projects located in very cold areas. We consider a “cold zone” when the project can face temperatures from 0°C to -40°C/F and a snow load exceeding 350N/m² (62 psf). To meet the site characteristics, we use a combination of :  

Our snow resistance tests :

Advantages of winter for FPV

The low water temperature in winter allows to regulate more quickly the solar panels’ temperature, thus improving their energy efficiency .Generating electricity directly on your site means you can optimally cover your consumption needs, thanks to intelligent battery coupling. For instance, during the winter months, you can take advantage of the energy contained in these batteries without fear of power cuts during peak consumption periods.

Our projects in snowy and icy conditions

As pioneer in floating solar power, we are constantly pushing back the limits of our technologies. Our projects in cold areas are proof that innovation is at the core of our approach. By adapting our solutions to climatic conditions, we are contributing to ensure solar energy is accessible to everyone, on a worldwide scale.

Our references

WALDEN, COLORADO, USA  – 74 kWp

• Water treatment
• 208 floating solar panels
• 0.13ha reservoir size
• 0.068ha FPV island size
• 52% coverage ratio
• Hydrelio® Classic 1-in-a-row configuration
• Bank anchoring with Percussive driven anchors
• 1.5m maximum depth
• 1.5m level variation

BOR, SWEDEN – 13 kWp

• Irrigation reservoir
• 50 floting solar panels
• 0.13ha reservoir size
• 0.015ha FPV island size
• 11% coverage ratio
• Hydrelio® Classic 1-in-a-row configuration
• Bank anchoring with percussive driven anchors
• 2m maximum depth
• 0.5m level variation

Benefits of floting solar plants

Floating solar panels offer distinct advantages that go beyond traditional systems, providing innovative solutions for energy production in various environments. Here are some of these benefits:

• Converts unused spaces into profitable areas
• Reduces grid-connection costs and major infrastructure investments
• Enhances electricity generation thanks to water’s natural cooling effect