Thailand is close to completing one the world's biggest floating hydro-solar hybrid projects on the surface of a dam, a step toward boosting renewable energy production after years of criticism for reliance on fossil fuels. About 144,417 solar panels are being installed on a reservoir in the northeast province of Ubon Ratchathani, where workers are completing the last of seven solar farms covering 300 acres (121 hectares) of water. The state-run Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand (EGAT) is touting the pilot project as one of the world's largest hybrid hydro-solar power ventures and aims to replicate it at eight more dams over the next 16 years. "When all the projects are completed in every dam, we will have total capacity to generate 2,725 megawatts," project head Chanin Saleechan said.
it looks an interesting way of generating power in a country where solar may otherwise take up a lot of good level agricultural land. I think the costs and environmental impact of of all the floatation devices must be taken into account though.
From the video they seemed to assemble it on dry land and then push the completed part out onto the water. I am not sure on the effect of covering the water but I recall a California reservoir was covered by black balls for some reason or other to stop light getting to the water.
Thailand is very reliant of natural gas generation at the moment so this seems a good way of getting some solar installed. Good on them and I hope it is successful and doesn't sink or anything.
