Statkraft unveils Albania's first floating solar plant

European renewable energy generator Statkraft is set to collaborate with Norwegian supplier Ocean Sun to commence commercial operations on a floating solar plant in Albania.

The project is located at the Banja reservoir in Albania, where Statkraft is operating its 72-megawatt hydropower plant. The Banja floating solar plant is an innovative R&D project with an installed capacity of 2 MWp.

The project is unique as it uses Ocean Sun’s patented membrane technology. The solar modules are mounted on hydro-elastic membranes and offers cost and performance benefits not seen in many other floating PV systems.

Floating solar power involves installing solar panels on floating structures on a body of water, such as a lake, fjord or ocean, or in a hydropower reservoir. Each unit has a plastic ring and a thin membrane.

Combined with the cooling of the panels from the water below, it is this membrane and the large area that makes this concept unique. It was developed by Ocean Sun and although the membrane is only a few millimetres thick, it can easily withstand the weight of the solar panels and of personnel carrying out installation or maintenance tasks.

The first unit, comprising 1536 solar panels, has an installed capacity of 0.5 MWp and covers almost 4,000 square metres. In addition, 160 equal panels have been placed on land for comparison and documentation of the cooling effect on the floating panels. 

The project is expected to continue its second implementation phase during the second half of 2021, whereby additional three floating units will be installed, with a combined additional capacity of 1.5 MWp.

“After the start of commercial operations of our Banja and Moglice hydropower plants, we are looking into further optimising these renewable assets. The Banja Floating Solar Plant is a clear example for further integration of different resources of renewable energy,” said Rigela Gegprifti, Statkraft’s country head in Albania.

According to Statkraft, Albania has one of the highest shares of renewable energy in Southeast Europe. Hydropower accounts for the largest share of Albania’s electricity generation, representing around 95% of its installed power capacity.

In addition, Albania has some of Europe’s highest number of sunshine hours per year, presenting significant potential for the development of solar power and a good fit with existing hydropower capacity.

Statkraft is Europe’s largest renewable energy producer and a global company in energy market operations. The company, fully owned by the Norwegian state, has been present in Albania since 2007.

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