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Self-adjusting Tension Buoy anchors floating solar on hydro dams

Self-adjusting Tension Buoy anchors floating solar on hydro dams
Source: interestingengineering
Author: @IntEngineering
Published: 10/7/2025

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Fred. Olsen 1848 has developed the Tension Buoy, an innovative adaptive mooring system designed to stabilize floating solar installations on hydropower reservoirs where water levels fluctuate significantly. Traditional mooring systems often suffer from tension issues as water depths change, leading to strain on anchors and reduced platform efficiency and lifespan. The Tension Buoy addresses this by automatically adjusting the length of the mooring chain via a compact winch mechanism integrated into the buoy, maintaining consistent tension without manual intervention. This design enhances reliability, reduces maintenance, and can be used both during installation and for ongoing operation. This technology unlocks the potential for combining floating solar with hydropower generation on reservoirs previously considered unsuitable due to dynamic water conditions. By ensuring stable anchoring despite water level variations, the Tension Buoy enables more resilient and efficient hybrid solar-hydro energy systems. Floating solar can provide daytime electricity, complementing hydropower’s steady output and improving overall renewable energy consistency. Fred. Olsen 1848’s

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energyrenewable-energyfloating-solarhydropoweradaptive-mooringclean-energysolar-hydro-hybrid