QAZAQ GREEN. A team of Canadian researchers has published the results of a year-long trial of a 7 kW floating solar power system designed to operate through harsh winters without sustaining ice damage. The work appears in a study published in the journal Applied Energy.

Floating photovoltaics (FPV) have already proven their value in warm climates: water cools the panels and boosts output, while shading the surface reduces evaporation and algae growth. Until now, however, such systems had barely been tested in cold climates, where ice poses a serious threat to floating structures.

The experimental array was deployed on a pond in Ontario. Its key feature is the use of foam floats instead of conventional pontoons — the panels are bonded directly to blocks of closed-cell polyethylene foam, making the design cheaper and easier to assemble. To prevent ice formation, the researchers installed an air-bubbling system that draws warmer water from the pond's depths up to the surface.

The results showed that the bubbler system kept the area around the array completely ice-free throughout the winter, while the additional energy needed to run it was minimal — ranging from just 0.02% to, in the most energy-intensive scenario, around 14.5% of annual output, depending on the pump operating mode. The system itself generated 7.7 MWh of electricity over the year, about 2.7% more than predicted by existing models for floating solar systems.

Beyond power output, the project also demonstrated a water-saving effect: shading from the panels reduced pond evaporation in proportion to surface coverage. Calculations showed that covering half the pond's surface with panels could save up to 927 cubic meters of water annually — a benefit particularly relevant for drought-prone agricultural regions.

Economic analysis found that under high electricity prices, such as those typical of remote communities relying on diesel generation, the system pays for itself in roughly four years. The authors note that the main barrier to wider economic viability remains the high cost of flexible solar modules, which could fall as production volumes increase.

Among the practical challenges encountered were algae buildup on the panels in summer and a risk of snow damage in winter, since the flat, untilted design left the modules without a way to shed accumulation. The researchers plan to test larger systems next and refine the design to address these issues.