Solar Islands

A company called CSEM is financing construction of a prototype floating solar island this year in the United Arab Emirates. They hope that full production of these islands could begin as soon as 2011. The circular Solar Islands with a diameter of 5 kilometers and an height of 20 meters consists of a torus, which is the steam storage, carrying the termosolar panels placed on a membrane.

Electric pumps constitute an overpressure of 0.1 bar to sustain the membrane 20 metres above the water level.

The whole platform adjusts it´s position to the course of the sun, to assure a maximum yield rate. To enable the platform to move, electric hydrodynamic motors will be fixed every 10 meters along the circumference.

The platform can be situated floating on high sea, on remote cost lines and even on shore.

The webcam shows the actual situation at the Solar Islands field in RAK, where the first prototype is being build.

Aerial view of almost complete torus (only one segment needs to be placed),21st May 2008:

You can visit http://www.solar-islands.com for more information.