MI 2020 Solutions FINAL

SECTION 02
RENEWABLE ENERGY
02
OCEAN BASED
FLOATING ISLANDS
CAPABLE OF
GENERATING
SUSTAINABLE SOLAR
POWER FOR REMOTE
COASTAL LOCATIONS
CHALLENGE
INNOVATION
PSea6 Energy has created ecofriendly
floating islands called
Dweeps, which are modular,
scalable and designed to survive
the harsh marine environment.
The Dweeps make use of the
plentiful ocean surface to provide
a novel way of deploying existing
technology to generate solar
energy. This power can also be
used to generate fresh water
through desalination plants,
generating the maximum amount
of fresh water in the hot summers
when the sun is most plentiful and
when water is most needed.
ACTION
A prototype unit has been installed
off the coast of Tamil Nadu, where the
results have been extremely promising.
POTENTIAL
As a next step, there are plans to deploy
a system capable of generating at
least 100 kW of power to demonstrate
the potential of the system. The size
of the islands can vary based on their
application, ranging from a few square
metres to several hectares.
These solar powered islands can also
serve as autonomous research stations
in the middle of the sea, capable of
collecting valuable oceanographic data
throughout the year.
USEFUL LINKS:
dweep.in
INDIA
There are several coastal and
island communities in India and
around the world with intermittent
or no access to electricity. While
solar energy can help electrify
these locations, acquiring
large tracts of land on which to
base a plant in these regions
is problematic and expensive,
especially considering the
growing population. However,
these coastal regions do have
one resource in abundance –
the sea. Floating solar power
installations on lakes has been
gaining popularity over the last
few years, but there has been no
system capable of laying a solar
power plant over the ocean.
The Dweeps are able to withstand
poor weather conditions by
making use of a concept found
ubiquitously in nature – tensegrity
– to flex to the changing surface
of the ocean rather than resisting
it. Using a combination of prestressed
cables and struts, it is
able to mimic the flexibility seen in
the human body with bones and
tendons. An added advantage
of this system is that the flexible
nature allows the structure to
absorb the wave energy, acting
as a natural breakwater to reduce
coastal erosion by waves.
30 31