04.07.2021 Solar Systems Learn To Swim Floating photovoltaic power plants can contribute to the expansion of renewable energy without taking up land. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, RWE Renewables and the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) are working together to further develop this innovative technology with other partners. In the joint research project PV2Float, the partners are to test several floating PV systems with different structure designs under real conditions over a three-year period. An Evaluation for a suitable open pit lake for the implementation is currently ongoing. Floating PV systems are installed on open water surfaces. They offer potential for renewable power generation and climate protection, and the technology hasn’t been widely adopted yet. In contrast to conventional ground-mounted systems, the PV modules are mounted on floats or membranes, which are put out on bodies of still open water and on the sea. In Germany alone there are about 500 open pit lakes, leftover from lignite open cast mining. According to Fraunhofer ISE, the potential of these open pit lakes from a purely technical standpoint is in the mid double-digit gigawatt range. Thus, floating PV opens up new applications for these former mines in locations such as Lusatia in the east of Germany.