Lima Completes 2MW Floating Solar Array, Targeting $10 Million in Power Savings
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 10
Lima Completes 2MW Floating Solar Array, Targeting $10 Million in Power Savings
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 10
Summary
Lima has finished a 2-megawatt floating solar project on its Twin Lakes drinking-water reservoir, with 3,120 panels now supplying electricity to the city's water treatment plant.
The array was built to cut the plant's heavy power use and is projected to save nearly $10 million over its lifetime; earlier city estimates put first-year savings at about $200,000.
The system covers about 3.6 acres of water, versus at least 10 acres for a comparable land-based installation, making it attractive for cities with limited open space.
The $5.3 million project relied heavily on federal aid, including a $2.4 million Energy Department grant and nearly $900,000 in direct-pay tax credits, while water-safety and site-specific environmental questions remain.
Lima's reservoir serves about 35,000 residents, and the project adds to a broader U.S. push into floating solar, with federal researchers estimating 861 to 1,042 gigawatts of technical potential on regulated reservoirs.
Will Lima's $5.3 million floating solar gamble actually lower utility bills, or will hidden aquatic maintenance costs sink the projected savings?
How will strict new 2026 supply chain rules impact other cities trying to replicate Lima's floating solar success on their own reservoirs?
Could covering drinking water reservoirs with bifacial solar panels accidentally disrupt local aquatic ecosystems while trying to save millions in energy costs?