The “mega-plants†have a number of benefits compared to traditional land-based solar plants. As Wired previously reported, the floating plants generate power more efficiently because of the cooling effect of the water underneath the system. In addition, the shade generated by the stations helps reduce both water evaporation and algae growth, and the systems overall are also drought-friendly thanks to how much water they conserve.
There are some concerns, too, such as how the structures will be able to withstand natural disasters. According to the National Geographic , however, the systems were found to withstand hurricane-speed winds up to 118 miles per hour in testing at Onera, France’s aerospace lab. In addition, the systems have been described as earthquake-proof. But they also can be costlier to install and maintain than traditional solar systems.
Still, Kyocera argues that the floating islands could play a huge role in helping Japan meet its goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2040.
“[T]he country has many reservoirs for agricultural and flood-control purposes,†Ichiro Ikeda , a Kyocera spokesman, told the National Geographic . “There is great potential in carrying out solar power generation on these water surfaces.
Japan isn’t the only country investing in these solar “islands,†either. Projects are already online or underway in India , Australia , Great Britain , Brazil and in Sonoma County, California.