Spotlight |
Aquasol: hydro-solar synergy at Urrá
Learn how the Aquasol project is driving Colombia’s renewable energy goals, optimizing energy production, and mitigating carbon dioxide emissions through the synergy of floating solar and hydroelectric power
What motivated Noria Energy to develop the Aquasol project at Urrá Dam, and what are the main objectives of the project? We saw an amazing opportunity to deploy an innovative solution at a site that demonstrates the complementarity that exists between generating power from a floating photovoltaic system and a hydroelectric power plant. The benefits are many: generating clean energy, preserving water, leveraging existing infrastructure, minimizing land-use conflicts, and creating overall awareness of the potential of clean energy.
Can you provide more details about the design and technology used in the floating solar system? How does it withstand water-level fluctuations of up to 120ft? Many hydroelectric dams face specific challenges — including deep water, significant water level variation, swells, and strong winds. For the Aquasol project at Urrá Dam, conditions include water depths up to 100 meters, 35+ meters of water-level variation, swells, and seasonal high-speed winds. Noria’s technology uses state-of-the-art materials and innovative optimizations among anchors, mooring lines, floats and modules to adapt to challenging conditions. We knew that we needed to partner with industry experts to design a safe, advanced, and cost- effective Floating PV solution. Noria chose to work with Isigenere from Spain and
Seaflex from Sweden. Isigenere developed Isifloating, a very versatile high-density polyethylene (HDPE) Floating PV mounting structure. Seaflex has been developing mooring solution for over 40 years, and developed the first elastic mooring system.
Right: South America’s largest floating solar project has been launched at Colombia’s Urrá Dam
What are the key advantages of pairing floating solar with hydroelectric operations, particularly in terms of energy reliability and increased production? Advantages include: The ability to leverage the existing infrastructure (interconnection, roads, resources, security, etc.), thus reducing the overall capital investment required Co-location and optimization of water surface area so that valuable land space can be used for other purposes
Additional clean energy generated from the FPV to power pumped-storage hydropower plants More efficient solar energy generation from water’s cooling effects and higher sunlight reflection provided by the water itself Reduced algae growth, water evaporation, and improved water quality from the shading provided by PV panels on the water Floating solar provides resiliency, reduces power fluctuations, and optimizes dispatch Minimizes the impact of seasonal water cycles Serves as a “virtual battery” — FPV can generate power during the day while the reservoir stores up water and energy for release during peak demand periods
How does the Aquasol project contribute to Colombia’s renewable energy goals, and what impact does it have on reducing carbon dioxide emissions? Colombia’s energy transition policy is at a crucial turning point, as the government targets the gradual shift to net zero. Colombia is shifting away from an extractive
10 | October 2023 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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