Floating photovoltaic systems - or Floating PV (FPV) for short - are solar modules that are not installed on roofs or open areas, but on water. The technology uses artificial waters such as excavator lakes, open-cast mine lakes or reservoirs and generates electricity there without taking up additional space.¹

The system consists of PV modules mounted on floating high-density polyethylene (HDPE) substructures. Anchoring systems ensure stability, while watertight cabling safely conducts the generated power to the shore.²

The potential is huge: Germany has more than 6,000 artificial lakes with a total area of over 90,000 hectares.¹ According to Fraunhofer ISE, the technical potential is around 44 GW³ - even conservative use of 15 percent of the areas could make 1.8 to 2.5 GW economically exploitable. 

Floating solar systems offer numerous benefits that go far beyond power generation. One of the greatest advantages is the double use of space: Decommissioned excavator lakes, storage basins or water surfaces in industrial and wastewater treatment plants can be used for energy recovery without limiting their original purpose.³

Floating PV systems reduce the evaporation of water by up to 30 percent.⁴ In sunny regions or when water is scarce, this is a clear benefit, as the shadow of the modules acts like a protective cover. At the same time, the water itself provides cooling - the modules heat up less and can therefore work more efficiently. Studies show that the efficiency is higher under certain conditions than with comparable onshore systems.⁵

In addition, floating PV systems can increase the climate resilience of waters, as shown by a study by the Fraunhofer Institute.⁶ New habitats for animal species are also conceivable. For example, seashell colonies settled on the substructures of an examined plant, which filter the water and bind phosphorus. However, the researchers emphasise that the interactions are complex and that the results cannot easily be transferred to other sites.

Last but not least, floating PV alleviates the land conflict between the energy industry, agriculture and nature conservation. The technology creates new capacity for power generation without taking up valuable agricultural land or sensitive ecosystems.⁵