Solar Secrets of the Equator: The Energy Revolution We Didn't See Coming!
In the vast expanse of our planet's oceans, particularly near the Equator, lies an untapped reservoir of solar energy.
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New research indicates that floating solar panels in these calm seas could be the answer to the energy needs of densely populated regions in Southeast Asia and West Africa.
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Offshore solar in Indonesia alone could generate about 35,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar energy annually, rivaling the current global electricity production.
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Countries with high population densities, like Indonesia and Nigeria, often lack the land resources for extensive solar farms.
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Regions near the Equator, often referred to as the doldrum latitudes, have calm seas and consistent sunlight, making them ideal for solar energy harvesting.
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The combined offshore floating solar PV annual generation potential in areas that don't experience waves larger than 4m or winds stronger than 15 m/s is 225,000 TWh.
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Floating solar panels must be designed to minimize damage to marine ecosystems and local fishing activities.
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The offshore floating solar industry is still in its infancy.
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By mid-century, it's projected that about a billion people in these regions will predominantly rely on solar energy, marking one of the most rapid energy transitions in history.
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