France-based floating solar (FPV) specialist Ciel & Terre has completed a 252kW FPV system wastewater treatment pond in Kelseyville, California, part of four projects in the US totalling 5.3MW in the third quarter of 2018.
The 252kW FPV project is for the Lake County Special Districts on behalf of Kelseyville County Waterworks Dist. #3 in partnership with local contractor North Coast Solar and the first public FPV system installed in California.
The project uses Ciel & Terre’s ‘ Hydrelio’ floating system technology and includes 720 PV modules and module optimizers provided by SolarEdge to maximize output, which is expected to deliver up to 1,650kWh of electricity in its first year.
Jan Coppinger, Special Districts Administrator for Lake County said, “We didn’t have available land or rooftop space suitable for this project, but our wastewater treatment pond had enough surface area to accommodate a sizable solar system. Floating is a great way to control algae growth in the pond at the same time we generate virtually free energy. All costs to provide utilities continue to increase, which forces Special Districts to seek out and implement any means possible to reduce future costs. This floating solar system will result in significant savings in future years.”
The project was financed by a municipal lease.
