FAO tests floating solar innovation in Jordan to boost panel efficiency

A new solar energy prototype designed to improve panel efficiency in hot climates has been assembled and tested in Jordan. The initiative is part of FAO’s “Lowering costs via Efficiency Gains of Solar energy systems (LEGS)” project, supported by the ELEVATE 2025 Innovation Fund. 
The project, led by FAO’s Energy Team in collaboration with FAO Jordan and the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, focuses on improving the efficiency and lifespan of solar PV systems in high-temperature environments. In fact, the performance of solar PV panels drops by 0.5 percent for every degree above 25°C, forcing farmers to buy bigger, more expensive solar systems. This inefficiency places heavy financial strains on families and compromises the potential of solar energy to serve as a reliable source of power for rural communities. Cooling PV panels remains a technological and management challenge that is largely unaddressed in agrifood systems.  

The LEGS prototype introduces active cooling technology, using water to reduce the temperature of solar cells. This approach is designed to improve electricity generation and extend the lifespan of PV installations in regions where extreme heat can cause the compromise system performance. 

Despite challenging conditions and temperatures reaching 45°C, the team assembled the prototype at the testing facility at King Talal Dam, conducted structural and electrical tests, and trained local stakeholders, including the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA), contractors, and academic partners, on system management and data collection. 

The floating island was anchored to an existing pumping station, and initial readings confirmed the system’s functionality. Cooled PV panels produced higher output than non-cooled ones, even under low-light conditions.  

A ground-mounted PV array was also installed to serve as a control for comparative analysis. 

Throughout the project, the FAO team directed the assembling of the floating structure, supervised wiring operations, and set up the monitoring software. In addition to using the cooling capacity of deep-water reservoirs to enhance electrical output of the solar panels, the prototype can reduce evaporation, a key issue for irrigation water in Jordan and several other countries in the region.  

Although further work is necessary to fine-tune this technological innovation and extract its full potential, the LEGS prototype represents a promising step towards more efficient and sustainable solar energy solutions in hot climates. By saving land and water, and offering potential benefits for rural communities, aquaculture operations and desalination plants, the floating system aligns with FAO’s commitment to climate-smart innovation.