Producing “clean energy” from the Sun is an option, which everyone of us must consider for future because of its renewable status. Scientist from Neuchatel’s Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology has designed a floating solar island that will produce both electricity and hydrogen using solar power. And even better is that the first $5 million, 100-meter-wide island is set to be deployed in Ras al Khaimah, one of the United Arab Emirates.
The idea behind the raft is to create a large field of solar panel without using too much terrestrial surface - while the U.S. may have vast areas in the Southwest that are perfect for solar arrays, other areas are not as lucky. So the island would float on an inflated ring, inflatable-raft style. In attempt to save money, the solar island is constructed not to be heated by solar panels, but by a concentrator that heats water running through pipes. It generates steam and it produces electricity. Very simple and efficient!
“A floating infrastructure means a very low construction cost,” said Hinderling. “There are no support structures to build.”
The floating island design also solves another issue, it can be rotated and by doing that it will be facing the sun all day for maximum efficiency. The hydrogen produced could be stored on board, rather than linking it to the mainland, which reduces further cost.
The construction of a prototype is now underway in the Gulf. Just don’t go looking for it off the coast of the Emirates: initial tests will take place inland, with the island floating on a water channel.
Bookmark | Permalink |
