World’s first floating solar power plant with vertical panels comes online

A floating solar power plant with vertically installed panels was commissioned in Germany. Sinn Power, the company that deployed the technology, claims it is the world’s first utility-scale facility of its kind.

The floating solar power plant featuring vertically mounted panels is situated on artificial lake Jais, created by gravel extraction, in the Starnberg district of Bavaria in southern Germany. With a peak capacity of 1.87 MW, the plant is expected to generate around 2 GWh of electricity annually.

The technology, called SKipp by Sinn Power, is designed for artificial water bodies deeper than 1.6 meters, such as quarry lakes and gravel pits. Floating solar installations on artificial water surfaces are particularly valuable because they provide additional opportunities for solar energy generation without occupying land.

On Jais, arrays of vertical east-west oriented solar panels are separated by at least four meters. The company claims it ensures stable electricity generation throughout the day and increases output during morning and evening hours when conventional solar systems produce less energy.

Each SKipp-Float segment requires only a narrow submerged base, serving as the stabilizing part of the structure. At up to 1.6 meters below the water surface, it ensures a minimal spatial footprint, according to the company’s engineers. The substructure secures the modules and allows controlled movement under wind loads and fluctuating water levels.

Additionally, the plant is connected to the grid via a floating cable and a shore-based feed-in point, enabling smooth energy transfer without disrupting the lake’s ecosystem.

The installation of the floating solar plant has a positive impact on the lake’s ecosystem

The SKipp-Float system was commissioned on August 21 and officially inaugurated last week. Among the speakers at the ceremony was Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder, who emphasized that the project demonstrates what an innovative energy transition looks like.

“The huge floating solar power plant on the lake generates electricity following the sun’s position. This is an example of Sinn Power’s engineering expertise, perfectly suited to Bavaria – a land of engineers and start-ups, as well as a leader in renewable energy,” said the regional leader, noting that Bavaria contributes 25% to Germany’s overall expansion of new capacity.

During the initial phase of operation, the company managing the gravel pit, Kies- und Quetschwerk Jais, reduced its grid electricity consumption by around 60%, with savings expected to reach up to 70% once production stabilizes, Sinn Power added.

The company said its floating PV plant occupies only 4.65% of the lake’s surface, well below the 15% maximum allowed under the German Federal Water Resources Act. An expansion of 1.7 MW of installed capacity is planned, keeping total lake coverage below 10%.

The company emphasized that the solar power plant has shown no negative ecological impact. On the contrary, the structure itself improves oxygen exchange and allows sunlight to reach deeper water layers, with reports indicating that water quality has improved since commissioning. New waterfowl nests have been observed on the floating sections, while schools of fish gather around the submerged stabilizing part of the platform.

Sinn Power plans to extend its vertical floating solar concept to open sea applications, further advancing renewable energy production at sea.