A new study published in the journal Nature Water finds that floating solar panels could supply the entire electricity needs of some countries.

The study suggests that installing floating solar panels on the world’s lakes and reservoirs could produce four times more electricity than the UK’s current annual demand.

The study’s researchers, from Bangor and Lancaster Universities and the UK Center for Environment and Hydrology, calculated the global potential for deploying floating solar panels.

Their calculations included lakes and reservoirs that meet certain conditions, such as being within 10 kilometers of a population center, not in a protected area, and not drying out or freezing for more than six months a year.

The study concluded that installing floating solar panels on just 10% of the surface area of ​​these lakes could produce 1,302 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity annually.

Floating solar panels have several advantages compared to terrestrial solar systems. It frees up land for other uses, keeps the panels cooler making them more efficient, reduces water loss through evaporation, and limits algae blooms.

The researchers warn that more research is needed on the overall environmental impact of floating solar panels.

The study offers a great opportunity for developing countries, especially those located in areas with high sunlight.

The study showed that five countries, including Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia and Rwanda, could meet their entire electricity needs through floating solar panels.

Many other countries can meet between 40% and 70% of their electricity needs from this technology.

Floating solar panels offer tremendous potential to provide the electricity needs of countries around the world, especially developing countries. However, more research is needed to fully understand the environmental impact of this technology, and it must be deployed strategically taking into account the consequences for energy security, nature and society.