< Previous68 Protevs is a project that brings a variety of opportunities and new challenges within the photovoltaic industry by tracking the sun’s movement. After being chosen by a consortium led by TNO (which includes SABIC, Equinor and the Municipality of Westvoorne), SolarisFloat completed the implementation of Protevs, which is now floating in Oostvoornse Meer, a lake in the southwest Netherlands. Protevs comprises 180 mobile solar panels, which were created by SolarisFloat as part of a research project to install 2GW floating solar in the Netherlands by building a farm of floating solar panels. SolarisFloat is one of the three chosen companies to implement Protevs. After the first phase of the project, the solar system of 50 KWp of installed capacity, was tested for a year. This first phase allows the companies to analyse the effectiveness of key features such as electrical performance, mechanical dynamic stability, and ecological effects. “Its type of architecture, scalable and modular, and the circular shape of the platform, allow an easy assembly while ensuring high levels of resistance and durability,” João Felgueiras, General Manager at SolarisFloat, explained in an interview. “This is important to endure harsh environmental conditions. Also, its unique design and exterior breakwater assure higher resistance, minimising the effect of the waves, and water debris that can damage the platform, assuring a proper working condition of 69 the overall solution during its lifetime,” he added. These prototypes can be installed on calm water such as lakes and reservoirs. However, the company developed thermoplastics materials, specifically developed for Protevs, to ensure that they are not impacted by weather conditions. Therefore, the island is secured in place by an outer ring, which is attached with cables and anchors so that it can move according to the water level. SolarisFloat built a total installed capacity of 73 kilowatts of peak power (kWp); to provide an increase in energy production by up to 40%, using double-sided panels that turn according to the sun’s movement. Electric engines consume less than 0.5% of the total energy produced. The company developed thermoplastics materials, specifically for Protevs, to ensure that they are not impacted by weather conditions. These panels have a high impact resistance and very high resistance to UV, to have an efficient life cycle. SolarisFloat said only due to the extension of the reservoir area of the existing dams it is possible, they will be able to meet all immediate power generation needs in most countries where there is an increase in electricity consumption within the next two to three years. The company said that Protves provides the key solutions, which include scalability and energy production optimisation with no environmental impact.7071 GANSU WIND FARM World’s largest wind project with a capacity of 20GW to expand China’s renewable energy efforts72 Gansu Wind Farm or the Jiuquan Wind Power Base is a group of large wind farms in the west of China’s Gansu province on the outskirts of the Gobi Desert. The farm spans across several counties, including Jiuquan, Jinta, and Guazhou. The farm has a planned capacity of 20GW, making it one of the world’s largest, if not the largest, wind farms with a target to offset 623,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. The project has played a significant role in China’s efforts to expand its renewable energy capacity. Currently developed by Gansu Longyuan Wind Power, owned by China Longyuan Power Group, the project is worth an estimated $17.5 billion. Gansu Guazhou Wind Farm I was completed in 2010 with 3,500 turbines installed. Gansu Guazhou Wind Farm (Gansu Guazhou Wind Farm II) consists of 33 turbines with 1.5MW nameplate capacity. Meanwhile, Gansu Guazhou Wind Farm (Gansu Guazhou Wind Farm III) consists of 134 turbines with 1.5MW nameplate capacity. The project was completed in 2022 and all six production lines are running at full capacity. The farm has made substantial contribution to China’s renewable energy goals as it has helped reduce carbon emissions by replacing conventional fossil fuel-based power generation with clean wind energy. China has been actively pursuing renewable energy development to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and address environmental concerns by reducing their reliance on coal. The wind farm is connected to the regional power grid, which allows the electricity generated by the wind turbines to be distributed to consumers.737475 WIND FARMS EAST COAST The US East Coast projects are in various stages of planning and development76 The US East Coast has significant wind resources that can be harnessed for renewable energy generation, which is why they are developing 5,000MW of offshore wind capacity along the East Coast. There are currently two operating US offshore wind energy projects: the Block Island wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island, which has a capacity of 30MW of electricity generation, and the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind pilot project with 12MW generation capacity. The Block Island Wind Farm replaced five diesel generators on Block Island and now powers over 17,000 homes. Currently, the US is building offshore wind projects spanning across the East Coast from Rhode Island down to Maryland. The US East Coast projects are in various stages of planning and development. According to developer Ørsted, these projects will have a generating capacity of 5GW – more than 150 times that of Block Island Wind Farm. The projects are expected to make a significant contribution to America’s goal to develop 30GW offshore wind capacity by 2030. In December 2022, wind project developers reported plans for about 7,500MW of nameplate wind electricity generation capacity in waters off the coasts of Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Virginia, and about 20MW in Ohio state waters.77Next >