Infratech to start construction for floating solar project in South Australia

Infratech Industries will start construction of a floating solar plant above a wastewater treatment facility in Jamestown, South Australia.

Infratech spokesperson Felicia Whiting was quoted by ABC Online as saying: "We should see some plant on the site within about two weeks."

Expected to be operational by April 2015, the facility will feature solar panels floating on water mass.

Besides ensuring that the panels remain cool during power generation, the process is also likely to generate 57% more energy than similar land-based projects.

Felicia Whiting said: "It prevents water evaporation up to 90 per cent of the surface area covered, and for dry states and dry climates that’s a big water saving measure.

"It prevents the outbreak of blue-green algae by keeping the surface water cool, which is for treated wastewater an issue in water quality.

"By preventing photosynthesis, the energy from the sun goes into the panel rather than into the water."

The solar project has been designed to enable most of its construction offsite, which will later be transported to the site to be slotted together.

Infratech has spent around two years over research and development for the project, which is based on an improved model as compared to similar test projects initiated by the company in in France and South Korea.

Once operational, the solar project is expected to power its adjacent wastewater treatment facility.

Surplus power generated from the project will be exported to the township of Jamestown, Whiting added.