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Continental Protects Reliably Against Evaporation While Simultaneously Generating Sustainable Energy from the Sun
“In doing so, Continental is demonstrating its long-term contribution to environmental and climate protection. There is a huge demand on our planet for off-grid water and power supplies, especially in arid regions. Innovations such as this generate more agricultural products and enable lives to continue cost-effectively,” explains Hans-Jürgen Duensing, who is responsible for the ContiTech division on Continental’s executive board. This is the future for water and energy supplies in hot regions with little rainfall. Self-sufficient electricity and water provision “This is the first system to combine an effective means of water protection with climate-protecting energy generation. The floating solar film compensates in a straightforward manner for the water scarcity and lack of power and ensures lower algal growth in the water thanks to the film’s decades-long resistance to UV light,” says Tobias Haarburger, who is responsible within Continental for driving this innovation, explaining the potentials and benefits of the system. Continental worked in conjunction with the central Cypriot water authority on that project. The water reservoir has an area of 6,500 m2, is 4.50 m deep and has been completely covered with the functional film. The first stage of the project in March involved applying 80 photovoltaic modules with a power rating of 20 kWp to the film. Around 700 more elements will follow in a second phase. The film used is a 3-ply, semi-flexible laminate made of PVC that is strong enough to allow people to walk on it and is resistant to UV light. There are also immersion pumps installed on the reservoir that are capable of pumping away any rainwater on the surface. Continental supplies a product that is easy to install, thanks to the high degree of prefabrication. A digger is all that is needed to excavate the reservoirs. There is no need for costly concreting and large construction sites. The sheets are up to 1.80 m wide and are easily positioned and joined to each other. Maintenance work is easy to perform since it is possible to walk on the films. Wind and sand have little effect on the flat modules. The system has a lifetime of several decades. Discrete floating solar units offer little or no cover for the water. Such systems could also be used to cover water reservoirs near airports to prevent flocks of birds that rest on the usually artificial ponds impeding flight operations. The quality of the stored water is improved, since algal growth is prevented. As a result, algae do not clog screens or filters. In addition, any potential odor nuisance is avoided since fermentation or digestion processes can no longer occur. The innovation is a joint achievement of engineers and innovation managers from Continental in collaboration with water managers, high-voltage specialists, photovoltaics manufacturers and scientific institutes. Continental was honored with the Inovyn Award in the “Sustainability” category in 2016 for its innovative, energy-generating surface cover for water reservoirs. Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic, and transportation. In 2017, Continental generated sales of €44 billion ($68 billion) and currently employs more than 240,000 people in 61 countries.
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This installation offers potential right across the world for both, state-owned and privately-owned water supplies in hot countries.
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