A floating solar power plant will be built in Tenerife for €1.1 million.
A floating solar power plant is planned to be built in Valle San Lorenzo on the Las Cercas reservoir, which will be the first such project in the Canary Islands.
Another floating solar power plant is planned to be installed in Valle San Lorenzo. The project is currently undergoing public discussion to obtain permission.
1,920 solar panels will be placed on the reservoir. This will cost just over 1.1 million euros. Construction is expected to take 4 months. The plant will be able to produce 1 megawatt of clean energy.
The project is being developed by a local company, Balsas de Tenerife (Balten), which reports to the local council. The power plant will be built on the Las Cercas reservoir in Arona. The reservoir can hold 250,000 cubic meters of water. The advantage of this solution is that there is no need to use land, as the panels will be placed on the water. In addition, it will help provide the reservoir with its own energy and maintain affordable prices.
The project can be expanded in the future, increasing capacity to 2,300 kilowatts.
During the work foreseen by the project, the waterproof film of the reservoir will be replaced and other necessary work will be carried out to install the solar panels. The waterproofing alone will cost €1,504,957.
According to Valentin Gonzalez, the local councilor for agriculture in Tenerife, these works will help to "store water more efficiently". He also noted that this is very important, given climate change.
The installation of floating solar panels on this reservoir will help achieve energy independence. And the renovation of the waterproofing will ensure the stable operation of the solar power plant. Gonzalez Evora emphasizes that the solar power plant at Las Cercas is part of Balten's plan to reduce carbon emissions. He also noted that there should be enough space left on the water to refuel helicopters that may be needed to extinguish forest fires.
Valentin Gonzalez Evora emphasizes that "the installation of these panels is the first such project in the Canary Islands." The first example has already been implemented on the San Antonio reservoir. "We strive to reduce Balten's carbon emissions by using renewable energy sources and implementing environmental solutions," he added.
The floating power plant will consist of a platform formed from interconnected floats, on which solar panels will be placed. The platform will be secured to the shores of the reservoir with cables to make it resistant to wind and waves.