BELECTRIC set to build 16.8MW floating solar plant in Israel

February 1, 2022, by Amir Garanovic

German-based company BELECTRIC has secured a contract to build a 16.8MWp floating solar power plant for S’energy and the large-scale water utility in Israel.

Together with S’energy, BELECTRIC’s Israeli subsidiary will carry out the engineering, construction and commissioning work for the plant, which is located on a water reservoir near Kibbutz Ma’ayan Tzvi in the north of the country.

Construction works are expected to start within the first quarter of 2022 with commissioning planned for the end of the year, according to BELECTRIC.

The company will also take on operation and maintenance (O&M) for the floating solar project.

Each of the more than 30.000 planned photovoltaic (PV) modules will be individually mounted on a floating platform.

The PV system will then be connected to the mainland via floating marine grade power lines. The floating platform itself will be held in place by an anchoring and mooring system with direct rammed piers, the developers said.

Ingo Alphéus, CEO of BELECTRIC, said: “Floating PV installations open up new opportunities for solar, especially in countries with high population density and competing uses for available land. After our successful entry into the floating PV market last year, we are now on the forefront of this fast-growing industry due to benchmark projects like this.”

Anna Velikansky, managing director of BELECTRIC Israel that will build the plant for Carmel shore waters utility, added: “This is already the fourth floating PV project we are realizing for customers in Israel. The greatest advantage of floating solar is that it reduces land utilization and site preparation issues associated with traditional solar installations. An additional benefit is that the water cools the panels naturally, which should increase their efficiency.”

To remind, BELECTRIC is currently building a floating PV project on behalf of EDF.

The 19.3MW plant, which is one of the largest plants of its kind in Israel, is located on several water reservoirs for fish farming pools near the Kibbutz Lohamei HaGeta’ot in the north of the country.

Commissioning is expected to be reached by the end of 2022, according to BELECTRIC.