Dutch engineers have made it to the headlines for building what is said to be the world’s largest group of islands made from sun-tracking solar panels.

Reportedly, construction work for the project is set to commence this year on 15 solar islands located on the Andijk reservoir in northern Holland. The islands, comprising of 73,500 panels, will have the ability to move and face the light just like a sunflower, cited credible sources.

According to industry experts, the growing resistance towards the construction of solar panels and wind turbines on land has prompted the renewable energy industry to seek alternatives. Therefore, large islands of solar panels are being constructed or already built in lakes and reservoirs throughout the UK, Netherlands, Japan, and China.

The first phase of the project, which involves three islands, each having a diameter of 140 meters, is slated to be completed by November, after the migratory season for birds comes to an end, claimed sources.

Arnoud van Druten, Managing Director of Floating Solar, was quoted saying that the company would like to have started earlier but due to the environmental issues concerning bird seasons there is only a limited period in the year when anything can be put in the water.

According to sources familiar with the development, the water company PWN, which owns the land where the solar farm is set to be built, is projected to create enough energy to power 10,000 homes, alongside a second development at Hoofddorp, near Amsterdam, that will include static solar panels.

Van Druten further elaborated that the sun-tracking system includes three buoys for anchoring with a cable around it, which ensures the island faces the sun while keeping the island together.

The island will also be capable of repositioning itself during extreme weather conditions in order to minimize damage, reported sources.

Source Credits: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/21/dutch-engineers-build-worlds-biggest-sun-seeking-solar-farm