Duke Energy to start construction of 1 MW floating solar project in Florida

Duke Energy is planning to start the construction of its 1 MW floating solar photovoltaic project that will be located in Polk County, Florida, USA, before the end of March 2023. 

The project will feature 1,800 floating solar modules and occupy approximately 2 acres of water surface on an existing cooling pond at the Duke Energy Hines Energy Complex in Bartow. Crews will construct and assemble the module floating system on land in segments before securing it with anchors in the water. The project will take approximately five to six months. 

The pilot is part of Duke Energy's Vision Florida program, which is designed to test innovative projects such as microgrids and battery energy storage, among others, to prepare the power grid for a clean energy future.