Population growth and economic development mean that energy needs in Africa are expected to triple between now and 2050, which is why some countries plan to build new reservoirs to generate electricity.
But in Africa the sun is more guaranteed than water, and that will increase with Climate Change.
Floating solar energy on reservoirs is presented as an innovative and sustainable solution with the potential to transform Africa's energy landscape. A recent study published in Nature Energy by a team of researchers sheds light on the enormous potential of this technology to meet the continent's energy needs without the need to build more dams than already exist.
The report, titled «Floating photovoltaics may reduce the risk of hydro-dominated energy development in Africa» , analyzes the environmental and social impact of hydropower in Africa and proposes floating solar energy as a viable, less expensive, and less harmful alternative.
The solution they propose has a series of advantages:
- Use of existing resources: Reservoirs offer an ideal platform for the installation of floating solar panels. The surface of the water reflects sunlight, increasing the efficiency of the panels, while the water itself acts as a natural coolant, improving their performance. In addition, competition for land use is avoided, a crucial problem in many regions of Africa.
- Reduced dependence on dams: Installing solar panels on existing reservoirs could generate enough energy to meet the continent's future needs, eliminating the need to build new hydroelectric dams. This in turn would avoid the negative impacts associated with these infrastructures, such as the flooding of fertile lands, the displacement of communities and the alteration of river ecosystems.
- Additional environmental benefits: Floating solar energy on reservoirs can reduce the evaporation of water, a vital resource in arid and semi-arid areas. In addition, it minimizes shadow over the water, which promotes the health of aquatic ecosystems.
- Boost to economic development: Investment in floating solar energy can generate employment opportunities in the manufacturing, installation and maintenance of plants. Additionally, clean, reliable energy can drive economic growth in rural and peri-urban areas.
- A paradigm shift: The Nature Energy report marks a before and after in the understanding of the potential of floating solar energy in Africa. The authors advocate for a paradigm shift in the continent's energy policies, prioritizing sustainable renewable sources such as floating solar energy over large hydroelectric dams.
Changing the way of thinking is not easy, and it also requires initial investment, infrastructure development and personnel training. However, these challenges are outweighed by the long-term economic, social and environmental benefits.
Nature Energy's research is just a starting point. More research and development is needed to optimize floating solar technology and adapt it to the specific conditions of Africa.
And of course that same idea can also be used in other regions with many sunny days, such as southern Europe.
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