Phloating Photovoltaics — Sunengy's Liquid Solar Array

Yet more thinking-out-of-the-box when it comes to solar energy. This time around Sunengy reckons we should be building floating panels connected into rafts of solar arrays. A thin film Fresnel sheet, held distant from the actual photovoltaic cell by a supporting frame, focuses the sun’s rays. The heat generated on the cell itself, is dissipated by siting it in contact with the water. The Fresnel lens will rotate into the water to protect itself in the advent of strong winds. Because the lens and cell unit rotates it can track the movement of the sun throughout the day. Sunengy from Australia also suggest their design uses 50 times less ‘exotic materials’ than standard solar cells reducing costs per kilowatt. ::Sunengy, via New Scientist.