The Floating PV industry is vast and similar to that of other PV applications except for the inclusion of float dealers.
The key industry players consist of investors, sponsors, developers, engineers, and suppliers. Most of the FPV Industry players are into other PV applications as well as other renewables.
Most suppliers produce their own FPV systems while some involve the help of a third-party developer. Few suppliers offer full-stack FPV solutions such as engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), Operations and
Maintenance (O&M) services as well as manufacturing floating systems using their own designs. Although some of the float suppliers go into partnership with other industry players depending on what they need to achieve. In addition, there isn't much competition in the FPV market.
FPV component manufacturers other than float suppliers are also exploring technological innovative options for designing products that provide solutions to challenges facing FPV applications specifically. Their products range from polymer resins, PV modules, inverters, DC
cables, and other components.
Let's check out the top FPV system Manufacturers
Many companies are moving into FPV components manufacturing, especially those already operating in other related industries due to the promising future of FPV application globally. Let's look at the top 10 FPV system suppliers
-
Ciel & Terre International
Ciel & Terre International (C&T) has developed beyond 300MWp power capacity FPV systems for both private firms and government-owned departments since 20. The company has successfully installed above 130 FPV systems across over 30 countries which include the United States, India, Australia, and some Asian, and European countries. The C&T company is considered a full key FPV supplier with experience in managing all FPV application stages which include manufacturing, supplying design, O&M services, and repair. All company's FPV projects undergo testing for reliability, quality, and safety and must be able to meet the provided criteria before deployment. The company handles mostly artificial water body FPV installation.
-
Kyoraku
Kyoraku Co., Ltd. started initially as a real estate development company in 1917 but introduced plastic and beverage around 1947. Due to their longtime experience in plastic manufacturing, they designed and developed a floating system known as Minamo Solar System which has successfully undergone real scale wind
tunnel testing. The company has been able to supply floating structures for more than 30 FPV projects and has surpassed a total power capacity of 50MW.
-
LG CNS
The LG CNS company was the first ICT company in Korea in 1987. Due to its outstanding knowledge in the ICT industry, it made a successful move to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and energy storage. As a solar provider, they are in as an EPC and FPV solutions provider and also finance huge FPV projects. They have different floating structure designs depending on the environmental conditions as well as the FPV application method used. Their designs have passed through a lot of tests like a wind tunnel, load resistance, and performance tests. They have successfully installed an energy capability of about 6MW.
-
LS Industrial Systems (LSIS)
The LSIS Co., Ltd. company which is established in Korea, in partnership with K-water developed the country's first FPV power plant which was deployed in the Hapcheon Dam in 2011. LISIS has constructed a floating structure that can withstand load stress, wave, and current disturbances. They recently introduced their eco-friendly PV arrays which are 100% lead-free.
-
Scotra
The company, since its inception in 2004 has been a leading FPV system supplier in Korea. Scotra has singlehandedly installed FPV systems of over 40MWp power capacity with claims of having constructed more than 1, 200 floating structures. They developed the largest FPV in Korea at the Gunsn Regarding Basin and have been working with the Korean government on most of its FPV projects.
-
Sumitomo Mitsui Construction (SMCC)
SMCC is a big construction company that is located in Japan. The company started float structure supply with the name PuKaTTo in 2015. The floats have been used for FPV deployments on water bodies like lakes, reservoirs, and others. SMCC's floating structure has a unique design that is quite different from other floats. The said uniqueness has its own advantages as it is flexible which reduces transportation costs and also stays afloat even if damaged. The company owns a wind testing facility. The company announced the development of a new floating structure that supports 72-cell solar panels instead of the usual 60-cell solar panels.
-
Sungrow
Established in 2016, Huainan Sungrow Sungrow Group Company was established in 1995 as a Solar power manufacturing company in China but ventured into FPV system supplying in 2016. They manufacture PV inverters, Floating structures, and others. The Sungrow company is leading in its floating technology standards as its floating solar products have successfully undergone over 10 ascertaining tests and have earned certification from TÜV SÜD due to their eco-friendliness.
-
Xiamen Mibet New Energy
Xiamen Mibet New Energy Co., Ltd (Mibet Energy) has been making an impact in researching, developing, producing, and supplying PV-related products, which are mostly mounting
structures and trackers for rooftop, land-based, and FPV systems applications. Its MRac tracker mounting system with a G4S as its recent innovation has been in use in over 100 countries. They are currently making massive progress in the FPV market as they are recognized and certified by AS/NZS1170, TÜV SÜD, MCS, UL, and SGS. Their HDPE floating structure has passed over ten specification tests. In addition, the company assures that its product lifespan is over 25 years.
-
Ocean Sun
In 2016, Ocean Sun was established in the need to develop and commercialize a novel floating solar concept based on the
installation of PV modules onto a large, free-floating, hydroelastic membrane. This approach is different from a typical FPV system as it is cooled by its hydroelastic
membrane instead of being air-cooled due to the deployment location. The company specializes in design specifications, EPC for 1 MW demo installations, consultancy, and management.
-
Swimsol
Swimsol started in 2012 and has since become a major Solar PV dealer in the Maldives. They made a debut on Floating solar system installation in 2014 with over ten FPV systems deployed at different locations on the Island with an average of 200kWp power capacity. Swimsol PV system projects have been undergoing innovations for the past eight years and has proven to have the capability of withstanding most PV system deployment threats such as wave, currents, and others.
