Experimental Modelling of a Floating Solar Power Plant Array under Wave Forcing

Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) plants are already well developed, and deployed all over the world, on calm water inland lakes, or in sheltered locations. They now progressing to be installed nearshore sites, deep seas. The company HelioRec, developing floating modules form FPV arrays areas, was awarded free-of-charge testing of their system by Marine Energy Alliance (MEA) European program. This paper describes experimental 1:1 scale float system, composed 16 supporting solar panels three footpaths, carried out Centrale Nantes’ ocean wave tank, allowing regular irregular frontal oblique conditions. Experimental results show that, even narrow spectrum experimentally achievable, a specific response from array revealed: multibody articulated exhibits first-order pitch resonant mode when wavelengths about twice floater length. A shadowing effect, leading smaller motions rear floaters, is also observed, for small only.