South Korea has turned a lake into something incredible: thousands of solar panels floating on water, arranged like blooming flowers. But these aren’t just pretty to look at, they’re producing clean energy for tens of thousands of homes. Let’s learn more about the future of power.
Floating solar panels that look like flowers
In South Korea, a country in Asia, they did something very creative and useful at the same time: they placed 92,000 solar panels floating on a very long lake called a reservoir. This reservoir is located in Hapcheon and is 27 kilometers long.
The coolest part is that these panels are arranged in the shape of plum blossoms, a very special flower in Korean culture. From above, they look like flowers floating on the water. It’s like a piece of art that also produces energy!
Energy for many homes
These solar panels are not just there to look pretty. They are also very powerful. They can generate 41.5 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to power around 60,000 homes. That’s like giving electricity to a small city using only the power of the sun.
Why on water?
In South Korea there isn’t much free land to install these panels. So, instead of putting them on the ground like people usually do, they decided to use the water. And it was a great idea! There are several advantages:
- The water keeps the panels cool, which makes them work 10% better.
- The panels help prevent the water from evaporating too fast.
- They also help reduce algae growth, which is good for the water.
So everyone wins: the environment, the people, and energy production.
Other countries are copying the idea
Do you think South Korea is the only country doing this? Of course, as it happens with every good idea, there are other countries joining this: Thailand is planning to build the biggest floating solar plant in the world, and Japan already has 50,000 floating solar panels.
It’s great that more countries are willing to incorporate this technology to their cities because it means more clean energy produced in a way that doesn’t damage the environment. Sounds great, right?
Energy that also tells a story
Not only do these solar panels in South Korea give people electricity, but they also have a special meaning. They are inspired by Mount Hwangmaesan, an important place in the area.
The president of Korea said that this design is a statement of the country’s commitment to clean energy, beauty and culture. Technology, tradition and art, what a combination!
Everyone helps and everyone benefits
Also, the people who live near the reservoir participated too. About 4% of the money for the project came from the local residents themselves. They invested in it, and now, with this 20-year plan, they’re going to receive money every year, like a profit for helping.
They’re not just watching clean energy being made, they are part of it. It’s an example of how a community can unite to care for the planet and help each other.
The future
This project in Hapcheon shows us how energy can be generated without using a lot of space, without polluting, and even making the place look more beautiful.
Maybe in the future we’ll see many more floating solar panels like these around the world. Maybe even fewer wind turbines, if this idea keeps growing. For now, thanks to these floating solar flowers, South Korea is taking a big step toward a cleaner, more beautiful, and shared future. It’s nice to see technology integrating in a beautiful way with the place, isn’t it? Imagine the place you live in with these solar panels as in South Korea, would you support the idea?