Solar energy can be harnessed in all areas of the world. Apart from substantially reducing electricity bills, it can make a significant difference to the planet. We all know about offshore wind farms, but what about floating solar panels? This new trend can boost the usage and efficiency of solar energy.

This client wanted to study the effects of wind forces acting on a floating solar panel structure. One of the challenges of the simulation is that the floating structure rests on an elastic foundation that represents the buoyancy force. Many different types of elements are used in the model:

1. A rigid soil (rigid elements)
2. Nonlinear springs to model the buoyancy effect
3. Cables (truss elements)
4. Tubes (beam elements)
5. Solar panel (shell elements)