As global demand for renewables surges, the search for viable sites is hitting physical limits. Grid-ready land is scarce, contested, and increasingly expensive. At WElink, WE see this as a strategic opening—not a dead end. Floating solar offers a way forward: scalable, cost-competitive infrastructure that generates clean power while preserving one of our most vital resources: water.
Why floating solar, and why now?
The world needs more renewables. Fast. But open land is limited, contested, and often ecologically sensitive. Enter floating solar: deployable on underused water bodies, offering dual wins—clean power generation and water conservation.
And this isn’t a fringe bet. Exactitude Consultancy projects the global FPV market to hit $75.76 billion by 2034, growing at 27.47% CAGR. Over 20 GW of installations are forecasted between 2024 and 2030 according to S&P Global. It’s not a trend. It’s a shift.
Floating solar makes sense in water-stressed, densely populated, and land-constrained markets. WE see the inflection point. WE’re getting ready.
Performance That Holds Water
Here’s what makes FPV interesting to us:
- Panels on water stay cooler and perform better in hot zones.
- It’s cost-competitive.
- Can prevent a significant amount of evaporation per year.
Better performance, dual utility, and long-term value. That’s infrastructure that earns its keep.
Where WE’re looking
While the technology is both exciting and opens many possibilities, floating solar only works where it fits. Here’s where it does:
- Southern Europe: Markets like Spain, Portugal, and Southern France face intense land competition and increasing water demands. Reservoirs here could do double duty—power generation and agricultural support.
- Sub-Saharan Africa: In Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, the case is different: use FPV to boost grid capacity and conserve water in irrigation-driven economies. WE already have boots on the ground here—now WE’re assessing where this tech could go furthest.
This isn’t plug-and-play technology. Deployment still faces friction, from aquatic impact assessments to navigating water rights and multi-agency ownership structures. That makes developer credibility and technical integration crucial in bringing these projects online.
WE’re evaluating, modeling, and engaging and WE recommend impact investors and developers do the same. Long-term impact needs more than a spreadsheet and a headline. It needs depth and that’s just what WE’re doing as WE proactively prepare the groundwork for this new technology.
What comes next
Floating solar is unlocking a new chapter in renewable energy—one that’s not bound by land or legacy constraints. It’s a technology that turns overlooked surfaces into opportunity, transforming reservoirs and industrial basins into engines of climate resilience.
What excites us isn’t just the performance metrics. It’s the creativity this unlocks: power where it was never possible, cooling benefits that improve output, water savings that support agriculture, and systems that are modular, scalable, and responsive.
WE’re not just watching the shift—WE’re designing for it. Because the best infrastructure doesn’t just meet today’s needs. It anticipates tomorrow’s possibilities.
