{"id":165283,"date":"2016-11-05T14:05:03","date_gmt":"2016-11-05T14:05:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lightsourcebp.com\/news\/cnbc-floating-solar-arrays-point-to-bright-future-for-clean-energy\/"},"modified":"2023-07-21T13:46:14","modified_gmt":"2023-07-21T13:46:14","slug":"cnbc-floating-solar-arrays-point-to-bright-future-for-clean-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/au\/news\/cnbc-floating-solar-arrays-point-to-bright-future-for-clean-energy\/","title":{"rendered":"CNBC \u2013 Floating Solar Arrays Point to Bright Future for Clean Energy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CNBC \u2013 Floating Solar Arrays Point to Bright Future for Clean Energy<\/h1>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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A special feature on floating solar innovation<\/h4>\n

The potential of solar power is significant, with the International Energy Agency previously stating that the sun could be the planet\u2019s biggest source of electricity by 2050.<\/p>\n

In the U.K., the appetite for solar among some is becoming increasingly stronger. \u201cWe\u2019re in the middle of what you can only describe as an energy revolution in the U.K.,\u201d Alan Whitehead, member of parliament for the opposition Labour Party, told CNBC.<\/p>\n

\u201cSolar power is now becoming increasingly central to U.K. power production,\u201d Whitehead added. \u201cThe deployment of solar is racing way ahead of what was thought was going to be the curve, and it\u2019s now making a real impact on energy systems.\u201d<\/p>\n

The U.K. is home to what is claimed to be the largest floating solar panel array in Europe. The array, based in the south of England, was installed by Lightsource Renewable Energy. The array is set to generate 5.8 million kilowatt hours in its first year of operation.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the benefits of solar in general Nick Boyle, founder and CEO of Lightsource Renewable Energy, said the business was, \u201cnow in a position for the first time \u2013 and it\u2019s a really interesting inflection point \u2013 where I can go to large electricity users and offer to undercut what they\u2019re paying today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boyle went on to explain that the predictable nature of solar meant that it also generated a predictable revenue stream, making it an attractive investment product.<\/p>\n

For Lightsource, there are several plus points to floating solar arrays. \u201cOne of the major benefits to floating solar is that there is all this space in areas of London or other cities, where you have a large area on top of the reservoir that\u2019s not being used,\u201d Liv Harder, senior development manager at the company, said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has definitely become more affordable to do projects like these over the last few years,\u201d Harder added. \u201cThe cost of panels has gone down nine times in the last five (years) alone, and the floats themselves also continue to go down in price as more and more installations go up.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the U.S., the solar industry seems to be in good health. At the beginning of this year it was revealed that the U.S. solar industry installed 7,286 megawatts of solar power in 2015, according to data from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association.<\/p>\n

The figures represent an increase of over 1,000 megawatts of solar photovoltaic installations compared to 2014. Photovoltaic technology is able to directly convert sunlight into electrical energy.<\/p>\n

According to the data, solar beat natural gas capacity additions for the first time ever, with 29.5 percent of all new electric generating capacity met by solar power in 2015.<\/p>\n

Back in the U.K., Alan Whitehead was also confident about solar\u2019s prospects. \u201cThe future of solar power is incredibly bright,\u201d he said. \u201cSolar has a wonderful future I think, it\u2019s one of those technologies that is absolutely game changing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch the video:\u00a0https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2016\/10\/14\/floating-solar-arrays-point-to-bright-future-for-clean-energy.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Related news <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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22 Feb, 2026<\/p>\n \n

Lightsource bp accelerates APAC hybrid strategy with sale of selected portfolio to Aula Energy<\/h5>\n <\/a>\n

Lightsource bp has announced the sale of a selected portfolio of Australian solar assets to Aula Energy. <\/p>\n

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18 Sep, 2025<\/p>\n \n

Lightsource bp advances its first solar and storage hybrid project<\/h5>\n <\/a>\n

Lightsource bp has commenced delivery on one of the first large-scale DC-coupled solar-battery hybrid projects in Australia.<\/p>\n

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15 Dec, 2024<\/p>\n \n

Australia: Lightsource bp reaches major milestone on solar and battery projects to deliver firmed renewable energy solutions\u00a0<\/h5>\n <\/a>\n

Lightsource bp announces it is commencing construction on its Goulburn River hybrid project and its Woolooga Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). <\/p>\n

Read Story <\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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