Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells manufacturer Q CELLS has announced plans to build a 41MW floating PV power plant, which will be installed at the Hapcheon Dam in South Korea.

In August, the company won the rights from the Korea Water Resources Institute (K-Water) to develop the facility and secured permission to build earlier this month.

The Hapcheon Dam is located in the southern region of the country.

Q CELLS intends to begin construction works at the site by the end of this year.

The company noted that the floating solar PV plant will feature a combination of onshore solar technology and floating structure technology.

The plant will also have a plum blossom design, the symbolic flower of Hapcheon-gun.

Q CELLS plans to install its Q.PEAK DUO Poseidon Edition solar panels at the Hapcheon Dam.

Specifically designed for floating PV installations, the modules can endure high temperatures and humidity environments.

Once completed, the facility will be the largest floating PV power plant in the world constructed on a dam. It will also become the largest floating PV plant permitted in South Korea.

The Hapcheon Dam floating PV power plant will have the capacity to generate clean energy that will be sufficient to meet the annual power needs of 60,000 people.

Q CELLS CEO Hee Cheul Kim said: “This floating PV will produce eco-friendly electricity by utilising the idle water surface at the dam.

“This is the best solution for utilising the limited land area in the region. Q CELLS will construct the Hapcheon Dam floating PV power plant to the high-quality standards for which the company is recognised around the world.”