By NOEL MURPHY
FLOATING solar panels on Geelong’s water supply at Wurdee Boluc Reservoir could be an an idea worth pursuing, according to Geelong Environment Council.
President Joan Lindros raised the idea in the environment council’s annual report after hearing of similar initiatives overseas.
“Overseas travellers describe large fields covered in solar panels in Germany; why not here?”
“Also reported is the potential for solar panels to be floated on large bodies of water such as Wurdee Boluc reservoir.
“I was told that in Germany paddocks were filled not with crops but with solar panels. It makes us think we’re pretty much behind what others are doing.”
Two Swiss companies have teamed up to build three floating “solar islands” with 100 photovoltaic panels, each 25 metres in diameter.
Barwon Water said it had investigated floating solar panels on Wurdee Boluc Reservoir and found they were not technically or economically feasible.
“The wave action across the extensive body of water makes it impractical to float solar panels,” Carl Bicknell, general manager strategy and planning, said.
