The array uses stainless steel fasteners and floating HDPE plastic floats for exceptional weather resistance and great safety. The floating array also exhibits great wind and wave resistance, and it is intended to be utilized offshore to address the energy needs of marine ecosystems and infrastructure.
This new item, known as “G5”, is reportedly the fifth generation of floating systems from Mibet. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic floats and aluminium alloy support legs make up its structure. For ease of installation, the components are mounted on support legs made of aluminium alloy with grooves and secured by locking pressure blocks. The technique reduces the quantity of floats and project costs by supporting solar panels on metal rails made of two different materials: magnesium-aluminum-zinc alloy and aluminium alloy. Mibet's novel floating system has greater stability compared to the common HDPE segmented floats (float + mount) on the market because of its integrated HDPE float design, which reduces the possibility of component cracking brought on by wind and wave forces. Additionally, because it is a modular product, it may be expanded in a variety of ways, including with patterns like parallel double rows or symmetrical double rows. In order to increase installation capacity and power generation, it provides options for installation angles of 5, 10, 12, and 15. The high-density polyethylene (HDPE) floats used in the system are suited for a variety of water bodies, are pollution-free, and have a lifespan of over 25 years. They also drastically lower construction and maintenance costs because they are interoperable with all of the primary solar components on the market.
The G5 has experienced performance advancements in various areas compared to Mibet's prior generations of floating PV systems, according to the head of the company's R&D center. For improved overall stability, the connection between the floats now uses an embedded fixed structure and plastic anti-loose bolts/nuts. With a buoyancy of more than 150 kg/m2, the size of individual floats has been increased to improve overall buoyancy. The system is capable of withstanding wind gusts of over 60 m/s, snow loads of 1 kN/m2, temperatures between -40 and +85°C, and a pH level of 4. The G5 float array also outperforms comparable standards in tests for UV aging, constant humidity and wet freezing, high and low-temperature cycle, water tightness, wind tunnel, drop, bending, and impact resistance. It has received certifications from reputable agencies like TUV and SGS. “We have widened the walkway and added anti-slip design to the surface to enable future operation and maintenance and improve safety performance. Mibet's floating PV mounting devices have been extensively employed in a variety of water bodies, including lakes, reservoirs, and coal subsidence sites, since the creation of our floating PV system in 2014. This integrated floating PV array has currently been improved to the fifth generation, which has gained worldwide promotion and favorable customer feedback, according to the spokesperson.
The floating PV array will also be used by Mibet to generate photovoltaic energy offshore. They have joined forces with the No. 725 Research Institute of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation to launch a demonstration project for offshore floating photovoltaics. This project aims to assess the safety and adaptability of floating photovoltaic systems in marine environments, providing strong technical support and assurance for Mibet's future applications in marine engineering.
