Czech Utility Unveils Technology to Secure Solar Panels in Unstable Subsoil
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Loading... - Ivan Ivanov
- 18 Jul 2024
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Czech utility CEZ Group has introduced an innovative solution to secure solar panels in areas with unstable subsoil, such as spoil heaps, waste ponds, and other unfixed terrains. This novel approach involves repurposing the central sections of conveyor belts traditionally used in strip coal mines. Engineers from Prodeco, a subsidiary of the CEZ Group, have been developing prototypes utilizing retired mining equipment, specifically the robust steel structures that form the central segments of these belts.
“We leveraged the central sections of conveyor belts, which offer significant advantages: they are designed for heavy-duty operations and include side rails that facilitate transportation along the plain,” the company explained.
Luboš Straka, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Prodeco, emphasized the benefits of using these central sections, noting their robustness and suitability for heavy-duty use. “These structures are ideal for any unstable subsoil or environmentally burdened subsoil. They stand solely on the surface, providing extreme stability and a non-invasive method for constructing photovoltaic power plants,” Straka added.
Typically, solar panels mounted on unsettled land with standard structures would experience jamming and cracking. However, by utilizing old steel structures from conveyor belts, the entire structure tilts as the extracted material settles, preventing stress from impacting the solar panels.
CEZ Group has announced that thousands of these modules will be available at the Bílina Mine in northern Czechia once coal mining operations cease. Several pilot structures have already been deployed on a reclaimed area near the Bílina Mine extraction site, where experts are currently testing their efficacy.
“The encouraging news is that the performance of the solar panels remained consistent,” said Jan Kalina, head of CEZ Group's Renewable and Conventional Energy Division. “For unstable subsoils, it may be more suitable to use technologies other than conventional silicon panels, such as thin-layer panels without silicon cells, where the semiconductor is applied directly to the glass. Further development is needed to determine the optimal technology.”
CEZ Group has set an ambitious goal to build renewable energy sources with a capacity of up to 6 GW by 2030.
