Floating Solar PV on Foam with Air Bubblers

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Floating solar PV power has been one of the most interesting and fun segments of the global solar power industry in the past decade. When it started popping onto the scene, it was catchy, but one wondered, was it really practical and cost effective? As it turns out, the benefits of solar PV that were identified early on have proven themselves as strong benefits and floating solar PV has grown by leaps and bounds.

It’s estimated that 1.5 GW to 2 GW of floating solar PV power was installed globally in 2025, and that brought the cumulative installed capacity to more than 10 GW. However, there’s still much innovation and improvement needed in order to reach new heights. One thing that needs work is making floating solar PV more fit for cold climates. That’s where Koami Soulemane Hayibo comes in.

“Koami Soulemane Hayibo, MSc, is a Togolese national who is pursuing his PhD degree in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Western University,” the university shares on a webpage focused on his idea and a paper about it: “Shining a Light on Foam-Based Floating Solar Panels and their Interactions with a Body of Water in Canada.”

One of the benefits of floating solar PV systems has been that the environment cools off the solar panels a bit, which helps with their efficiency. However, in a cold climate, you don’t want to cool of the solar panels, and there are challenges created by the cold.

The foam-based floating PV systems have the solar modules attached to polyethylene foam slabs, rather than typical plastic bases, and these lead to the solar panels floating about 1 centimeter over the water.

“Koami has a good understanding of solar PV system design and installation and is focusing his Ph.D. on studying the feasibility of flexible floating PV in Canada.” He has created a foam-backed floating PV system that provides more built-in insulation. Additionally, it includes an air bubbler to prevent ice. Overall, the system works for these purposes, and with only minimal energy use.

“We found a pretty nice energy yield advantage, too. Foam-based FPV generated more energy annually compared to other PV models, emphasizing the importance of accurate temperature modeling for cold-climate systems,” one of the co-authors, author Joshua M. Pearce, told pv magazine. “The study also demonstrated FPV-based evaporation reduction for water conservation. But best of all is that the foam-based FPV was economic while solving the issue of FPV in cold climates.” That’s what it comes down to in the end — is it more or less economical than the norm?

Foam-based floating PV systems with air bubblers may sound goofy and unrealistic, but that’s how many people saw floating solar PV systems several years ago. If it works, it works; and if it’s economical, it’s economical. That said, something that seems effective on a small-project research level doesn’t necessarily make sense on a commercial level on the market. We’ll have to wait to se if this concept makes it onto the market and gets widely adopted.

“These advances provide a solid foundation for future research at larger scales and across diverse water bodies, thereby positioning FPV as a viable technology for sustainable energy expansion not only in warm climates but also in cold regions,” concluded Pearce.

The full scientific article can be read in the journal Applied Energy.