The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology has launched a pilot project to investigate the performance of flexible photovoltaic (PV) panels at sea to determine whether they would be technically and commercially viable.

The project, to be conducted over the next 24 months off Malta’s coast, is being subsidised through a research and innovation grant offered by the Malta Council for Science and Technology .

The project concept is innovative and original because it uses flexible PVs mounted directly on the sea surface. The sea water acts as a heat sink, cooling the panels while they generate electricity. This should have a beneficial effect on the efficiency and overall yield.

The performance of the floating PVs will be benchmarked with a similar smaller system on land. The concept is expected to have advantages over other similar systems, namely lower capital costs, less maintenance, and improved reliability compared with other forms of marine renewable energy, such as offshore wind, rigid offshore PV structures, wave and tidal energy.

Initial studies have indicated that the concept has potential. The project will determine whether further studies should be undertaken.

The project partners are Mcast, which will manage the project and carry out research, Econetique, Azzopardi Fisheries and Mirarco, a Canadian research company.

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