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Combining Floating Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants and Hydropower Reservoirs: A Virtual Battery of Great Global Potential

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Francisco Javier Farfan Orozco at Åbo Akademi University
Francisco Javier Farfan Orozco
Christian Breyer
Christian Breyer
Christian Breyer
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Abstract and Figures

Artificial water reservoirs have been created over history for a variety of purposes such as flood control, seasonal water storage for irrigation, fishing, hydropower generation, energy storage, etc. Globally, hydropower represents still the largest share of renewable electricity generation, with over 1170 GW of capacity installed, thereof 328 GW is hydro Run-of-River capacity, and the rest is hydro reservoir based (141 GW of which is hydro pumped storage), controlled to different degrees. These reservoirs cover a surface of approximately 265.7 thousand km² with the potential to host 4400 GW of floating photovoltaic (PV) power plants at 25% reservoir surface coverage and generate approximately 6270 TWh of electricity. This capacity can be extended to 5700 GW and about 8000 TWh of electricity if all reservoirs (hydropower and for other purposes) are covered at 25%, in both cases generating already more electricity than hydropower from reservoirs at about 2510 TWh. The flexibility of operation of hydro reservoir based power plants and their current connection to grids facilitates a “virtual battery” consisting of supplying the electricity demand with solar energy during peak irradiation hours, while balancing grids with hydropower during low/no irradiation times and providing a zero impact area for PV power plant deployment. The characteristics of the “virtual battery” are investigated and presented in this study. The PV power plants also could prevent approximately 74 billion m³ of water evaporation, further benefiting hydropower production and water conservation, increasing water availability by an estimated 6.3%, adding an estimated 142.5 TWh of production to reservoir-based hydropower plants.
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ScienceDirect
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
ScienceDirect
Energy Procedia 00 (2017) 000–000
www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia
1876-6102 © 2017The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Peer-review under responsibility of the Scientific Committee of The 15th International Symposium on District Heating and Cooling.
The 15th International Symposium on District Heating and Cooling
Assessing the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor
temperature function for a long-term district heat demand forecast
I. Andrića,b,c*, A. Pinaa, P. Ferrãoa, J. Fournierb., B. Lacarrièrec, O. Le Correc
aIN+ Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research -Instituto Superior Técnico,Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
bVeolia Recherche & Innovation,291 Avenue Dreyfous Daniel, 78520 Limay, France
cDépartement Systèmes Énergétiques et Environnement -IMT Atlantique, 4 rue Alfred Kastler, 44300 Nantes, France
Abstract
District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective solutions for decreasing the
greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. These systems require high investments which are returned through the heat
sales. Due to the changed climate conditions and building renovation policies, heat demand in the future could decrease,
prolonging the investment return period.
The main scope of this paper is to assess the feasibility of using the heat demand –outdoor temperature function for heat demand
forecast. The district of Alvalade, located in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as a case study. The district is consisted of 665
buildings that vary in both construction period and typology. Three weather scenarios (low, medium, high) and three district
renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were
compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors.
The results showed that when only weather change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications
(the error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather scenarios considered). However, after introducing renovation
scenarios, the error value increased up to 59.5% (depending on the weather and renovation scenarios combination considered).
The value of slope coefficient increased on average within the range of 3.8% up to 8% per decade, that corresponds to the
decrease in the number of heating hours of 22-139h during the heating season (depending on the combination of weather and
renovation scenarios considered). On the other hand, function intercept increased for 7.8-12.7% per decade (depending on the
coupled scenarios). The values suggested could be used to modify the function parameters for the scenarios considered, and
improve the accuracy of heat demand estimations.
© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Peer-review under responsibility of the Scientific Committee of The 15th International Symposium on District Heating and
Cooling.
Keywords: Heat demand; Forecast; Climate change
Energy Procedia 155 (2018) 403–411
1876-6102 © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 12th International Renewable Energy Storage
Conference.
10.1016/j.egypro.2018.11.038
10.1016/j.egypro.2018.11.038
© 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientic committee of the 12th International Renewable Energy Storage
Conference.
1876-6102
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
ScienceDirect
Energy Procedia 00 (2018) 000–000
www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia
1876-6102 © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 12th International Renewable Energy Storage Conference.
12th International Renewable Energy Storage Conference, IRES 2018
Combining Floating Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants and
Hydropower Reservoirs: A Virtual Battery of Great Global Potential
Javier Farfan*, Christian Breyer
Lappeenranta University of Technology, School of Energy Systems, Skinnarilankatu 34, 53850, Lappeenranta, Finland
Abstract
Artificial water reservoirs have been created over history for a variety of purposes such as flood control, seasonal water storage for
irrigation, fishing, hydropower generation, energy storage, etc. Globally, hydropower represents still the largest share of renewable
electricity generation, with over 1170 GW of capacity installed, thereof 328 GW is hydro Run-of-River capacity, and the rest is
hydro reservoir based (141 GW of which is hydro pumped storage), controlled to different degrees. These reservoirs cover a surface
of approximately 265.7 thousand km2 with the potential to host 4400 GW of floating photovoltaic (PV) power plants at 25%
reservoir surface coverage and generate approximately 6270 TWh of electricity. This capacity can be extended to 5700 GW and
about 8000 TWh of electricity if all reservoirs (hydropower and for other purposes) are covered at 25%, in both cases generating
already more electricity than hydropower from reservoirs at about 2510 TWh. The flexibility of operation of hydro reservoir based
power plants and their current connection to grids facilitates a “virtual battery” consisting of supplying the electricity demand with
solar energy during peak irradiation hours, while balancing grids with hydropower during low/no irradiation times and providing
a zero impact area for PV power plant deployment. The characteristics of the “virtual battery” are investigated and presented in
this study. The PV power plants also could prevent approximately 74 billion m3 of water evaporation, further benefiting hydropower
production and water conservation, increasing water availability by an estimated 6.3%, adding an estimated 142.5 TWh of
production to reservoir-based hydropower plants.
© 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 12th International Renewable Energy Storage
Conference.
Keywords: Renewable energy; floating photovoltaic; virtual battery; water reservoir; hydropower
* Corresponding author. Tel.: + 358 417 057 569;
E-mail address: javier.farfan.orozco@lut.fi
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
ScienceDirect
Energy Procedia 00 (2018) 000–000
www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia
1876-6102 © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 12th International Renewable Energy Storage Conference.
12th International Renewable Energy Storage Conference, IRES 2018
Combining Floating Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants and
Hydropower Reservoirs: A Virtual Battery of Great Global Potential
Javier Farfan*, Christian Breyer
Lappeenranta University of Technology, School of Energy Systems, Skinnarilankatu 34, 53850, Lappeenranta, Finland
Abstract
Artificial water reservoirs have been created over history for a variety of purposes such as flood control, seasonal water storage for
irrigation, fishing, hydropower generation, energy storage, etc. Globally, hydropower represents still the largest share of renewable
electricity generation, with over 1170 GW of capacity installed, thereof 328 GW is hydro Run-of-River capacity, and the rest is
hydro reservoir based (141 GW of which is hydro pumped storage), controlled to different degrees. These reservoirs cover a surface
of approximately 265.7 thousand km2 with the potential to host 4400 GW of floating photovoltaic (PV) power plants at 25%
reservoir surface coverage and generate approximately 6270 TWh of electricity. This capacity can be extended to 5700 GW and
about 8000 TWh of electricity if all reservoirs (hydropower and for other purposes) are covered at 25%, in both cases generating
already more electricity than hydropower from reservoirs at about 2510 TWh. The flexibility of operation of hydro reservoir based
power plants and their current connection to grids facilitates a “virtual battery” consisting of supplying the electricity demand with
solar energy during peak irradiation hours, while balancing grids with hydropower during low/no irradiation times and providing
a zero impact area for PV power plant deployment. The characteristics of the “virtual battery” are investigated and presented in
this study. The PV power plants also could prevent approximately 74 billion m3 of water evaporation, further benefiting hydropower
production and water conservation, increasing water availability by an estimated 6.3%, adding an estimated 142.5 TWh of
production to reservoir-based hydropower plants.
© 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 12th International Renewable Energy Storage
Conference.
Keywords: Renewable energy; floating photovoltaic; virtual battery; water reservoir; hydropower
* Corresponding author. Tel.: + 358 417 057 569;
E-mail address: javier.farfan.orozco@lut.fi
404 Javier Farfan et al. / Energy Procedia 155 (2018) 403–411
2 Javier Farfan and Christian Breyer / Energy Procedia 00 (2018) 000–000
1. Introduction
Hydropower is a well established technology that has played an important role in the global power system since
the beginning of centralized power distribution systems. The oldest (but still operating) hydropower plants have been
active since the end of the 19th century [1]. Hydropower plants are operating throughout the planet, with presence in
almost every country in the world. There is 701.1 GW of active hydropower plant, reservoir-based capacity installed
worldwide (see Figure 1) and 138.7 GW of hydro pumped storage capacity [1].
Shown in Figure 1 is the distribution of reservoir-based hydropower plants globally. It can be noticed that in large,
commonly dry areas (Sahara, Northern Mexico, Central USA, Persian Gulf, Australia, etc.) the level of hydropower
installations are noticeable lower, nevertheless present. This is due to the fact that hydropower is a major, localized
resource.
Fig 1. Active global installed capacity of reservoir-based hydropower plants in 2014. Data is taken from [1].
In contrast, solar photovoltaic (PV) generation started having a limited presence in the 1980s, but since then
installations have increased in an exponential manner, matching the exponential fall of the price of solar PV panels,
occupying a significant share of the new power installations since the year 2010 [1,2]. By end of 2016 the global
cumulative installed PV capacity was 306 GW [2], and in 2017 new PV capacity of about 100 GW was added [3]. A
very strong growth of PV capacity in the multi TW scale is expected till the mid of the 21st century [1, 2, 4]. However,
despite both technologies having shares of the global electricity system for a few decades already, PV and hydropower
have only recently started to meet [5-10]. A wide array of designs is currently being either designed, tested or deployed
[11], including concepts such as floating platforms, floating thin films, submerged PV panels, etc. Though the
characteristics differ from one design to another, the advantages of floating PV (FPV) systems are very clear:
Using water surfaces for FPV deployment provides areas of potential zero impact and hardly any alternative use
The cooling provided by the water increases the PV panels’ efficiency
The shading provided by the FPV panels prevents a significant amount of water evaporation
The shading provided by the PV panels significantly reduces algae growth, thus improving water quality
Water surfaces provide areas free of shading objects (trees, buildings, etc.) and a higher sunlight reflection
coefficient, optimal for PV deployment
Due to the aforementioned reasons, FPV plants hold a huge potential globally. Moreover, further advantages occur
when both FPV and hydropower reservoirs meet, such as grid connectivity (with transmission lines, transformers,
etc.) already present, every litre of water prevented from evaporation will produce additional hydropower energy, etc.
An additional feature that has not yet been analysed is the ability of the hydropower plant to act as a virtual battery of
Javier Farfan et al. / Energy Procedia 155 (2018) 403–411 405
Javier Farfan and Christian Breyer / Energy Procedia 00 (2018) 000–000 3
the FPV plant.
One of the disadvantages of solar energy is that it depends on weather conditions and patterns, location-specific
radiation levels, and daily natural cycles. Because of this, solar energy production is not controllable. On the other
hand, reservoir-based hydropower (when sufficient water is present) is highly controllable, though due to its historic
low cost is normally used as baseline capacity production. However, the current and projected fall in cost of PV
systems [12, 13] can shift this tendency. The now potentially cheaper solar energy can be used directly while using
the water reservoir and hydropower plant as virtual batteries to balance intermittent electricity generation.
Under a “virtual battery” configuration, during high irradiation time, the power generated by the FPV panels would
be transmitted to the grid and used directly, while either the reservoir accumulates (when there is an inflow stream)
or just holds water that can be then later used during times of low or absent solar irradiation. In this manner, the
reservoir itself becomes a battery, where the “charge” is the water spared from being used or accumulated while the
direct solar energy is being used. This is of course feasible due to the high flexibility of hydropower plant operation.
2. Methodology
The base data used to perform this research is the global reservoir and dam (GRanD) database [14]. The database
compiles all known water reservoirs for which the water level can be purposely controlled. A total of 6863 reservoirs
are listed, of which 2134 are listed with hydropower capabilities, either as main or secondary use. Among the data
fields, specified information includes location coordinates, name of the reservoir/dam, province, country, closest
population centre, average water discharge, reported reservoir surface area, volume capacity, maximum and minimum
reported surface areas, main and secondary use of the reservoir, head of the dam, etc. In total, the water reservoirs that
fuel hydropower plants provide a reported surface area [14] of approximately 263 thousand km2 of water, which
represents an area of potential zero impact. The 263 thousand km2 of total surface is obtained by adding up the
minimum reported surface area of each reservoir, when indicated, or the reported surface area (when minimum area
is not indicated).
For the 2134 reservoirs marked with hydropower function, reservoir capacity (in million cubic meters) and annual
average discharge (in litres per second) information is always listed, but only 1768 list a number for reported area
(square kilometres). The rest of the unspecified area was estimated according to a global average volume-to-surface
ratio, as area is a vital factor for FPV potential calculation.
The electricity storage capacity of the dam is calculated according to Equations 1 and 2;
=  ∗  ∗  ∗ ℎ ∗ Ȯ ∗  (1)
Τ = / (2)
Table 1: Definition of terms for Equations 1 and 2
Symbols
Description
E
η
ρ
Ȯ
g
h
Τ
φ
θ
Maximum electricity storage capacity of the reservoir (Wh)
Efficiency of turbine + generator (assumed 90% for hydropower)
Density of water (kg/m3)
Water flow (m3/s)
Gravity constant (rounded to 9.81 m/s2)
Head of the dam (m)
Time (hours)
Volume capacity of the reservoir (m3)
Yearly average discharge ratio of the reservoir (m3/s)
For the FPV plant assumptions, the power density and water evaporation prevention ratios are obtained from [5],
at 66.82 Wp/m2 and 1.1 m3H2O/m2FPV, respectively. As for FPV energy production, a simulation of the irradiation maps
for optimally fixed-tilted PV systems was calculated per location according to the global annual irradiation profiles
used by [15]. Influencing effects of the surrounding waters are neglected, such as cooling or albedo effects. Every
reservoir surface area was assumed to be covered by only 25%, to protect the FPV from being affected b y fluctuating
water levels, (though as tested by [5] it seems not to be a constraint). The results are simulated according to the 145
geographic regions defined by [15].
406 Javier Farfan et al. / Energy Procedia 155 (2018) 403–411
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3. Results and Discussion
Under the assumptions and methods previously presented, the following findings have been obtained. Figure 2
presents the potential installation capacity (bottom) and the potential electricity generation (top) by FPV for the
reservoirs with hydropower capabilities (regardless of whether it is the main or secondary purpose of the reservoir).
The focus on hydropower capable reservoirs is due to the fact that they have lower potential cost integration, as grid
connectivity is already available. A total of 4400 GWp of FPV capacity could be installed and 6270 TWh could be
generated globally by covering only 25% of the estimated surface area of the reservoirs, which can then be used
virtually as a battery. The regions of the world with the highest potential for virtual battery operation are mostly in
Siberia, Eastern Europe, the Nordic countries, some parts of North and South America, and Central Africa. As
expected, areas predominantly dry, such as the Persian Gulf and North Africa, have significantly less potential (as
they have less available water). The largest controllable water reservoir is located in Africa, within the borders of the
integrated region of the territories of Kenya and Uganda, which, combined with pristine solar irradiation conditions,
creates the spot with the most potential of hydropower combined with FPV.
Fig. 2. Potential electricity generated per year from (top) and potential capacity of (bottom) FPV covering 25% of the water surface of
hydropower reservoirs.
To put things into perspective, Bloomberg’s New Energy Finance [16] estimates that the global demand for
electricity storage by 2030 is going to be around 300 GWh, that is, doubling six times from 2016 levels. Whereas,
Javier Farfan et al. / Energy Procedia 155 (2018) 403–411 407
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other research [4] indicates a total global storage demand (throughput) of about 15,100 TWhel by 2050 for a global
100% renewable electricity system, and thereof 10,100 TWhel of utility-scale batteries. For reference, it is estimated
that hydropower from reservoirs contributes 2510 TWhel to global electricity generation [17], and further growth may
be rather limited. This is already less than what can be potentially produced by covering only 25% of the surface of
reservoirs by FPV. Extending further the coverage ratio of the reservoir to 50% would then double the potential energy
generated by FPV to 12,540 TWh. However, environmental and social constraints should be further investigated.
Furthermore, if the FPV installations were to be extended to reservoirs of all purposes, the installed capacity and
generation would extend to 5700 GW (bottom) of FPV capacity and 8039 TWh (top), respectively, as shown in Figure
3. An approximated 74 billion m3H2O would be prevented from evaporation, thus increasing roughly 6.3% the available
water of the reservoirs per year for further energy production (approximately 142.5 TWh assuming 90% hydropower
efficiency) or any alternative intended purpose of the reservoir. As reported by [18], just the water conservation
advantage is already enough reason for PV systems to be installed over water bodies in high water stress areas, for
which, depending on the coverage ratio, evaporation can be reduced by 50% to 80%. Also, up to an additional 7% of
efficiency was reported on the solar panels compared to ground mounted systems [18].
Fig 3. Potential electricity generated per year from (top) and potential capacity of (bottom) FPV plants over water reservoirs of all purposes at a
reservoir coverage ratio of 25%.
Figure 3 shows a significantly “brighter” picture than what can be seen in Figure 2, which is caused by an additional
28% of electricity which can be generated when reservoirs of all purposes (hydropower, agriculture, recreation, etc.)
have their surface covered at a 25% ratio. This scenario presents some additional advantages. Visible in Figure 3, it
408 Javier Farfan et al. / Energy Procedia 155 (2018) 403–411
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can be noticed that water reservoirs for any purpose are more widely distributed globally, and thus are more likely to
be able to provide electricity to grids closer to population centers. Despite missing the hydropower virtual battery
functionality, such locations would still benefit from decreased water evaporation and increased PV panel efficiency.
Furthermore, the technology of FPV’s increasing popularity has led to worldwide installations reported by [7, 19] as
presented in Table 2.
Table 2. Reported FPV installations worldwide as reported by [7, 19].
Country
Total added capacity
China
Japan
United Kingdom
South Korea
Australia
Italy
United States
Spain
France
India
Singapore
Canada
376.50 MW
22.66 MW
9.33 MW
6.00 MW
4.00 MW
0.77 MW
0.67 MW
0.32 MW
0.12 MW
0.06 MW
0.005 MW
0.0005 MW
Several further FPV projects have been announced, as for Indonesia [20] (200 MW) and China (additional 1.1
GW) [19]. A first combined FPV hydropower project was realized recently in Portugal [21].
An equivalent behavior (balancing hydropower and PV instead of hydropower with FPV) has already been found
by various research [22-28]. In areas of the globe where both hydropower (dark blue in Figure 4) and a good solar
resource (light yellow and dark yellow from Figure 4) are available, hydropower is expected to shift from the
traditional “base generation” operation towards intermittent operation, covering the demand during the low solar
irradiation periods, as can be seen in Figure 4 [22]. The depicted example is for Mexico South, and further examples
can be found for Turkey [23], Argentina [24], Central America [24], US Mid Atlantics [22], Malaysia West [26],
Indonesia Sumatra [26] and Pakistan North [25]. Research results clearly indicate a substantial demand for short and
long-term storage and renewable energy easy to dispatch, such as bioenergy and hydro reservoirs, for an electricity
system based on variable renewable electricity, mainly solar PV and wind energy. Hydropower from reservoirs can
function as short-term and long-term balancing components due to their dispatchability and thus support an energy
system integration of high shares of solar PV, which is found as a major source of electricity all around the world [4,
17]. The “virtual battery” dispatch of hydro reservoirs can be studied in detail for all 145 regions for all hours of a
year for the simulated case of a 100% renewable electricity system in [23] and respective data can be downloaded.
Alternative hybrid systems of FPV plus energy storage options have been proposed, such as [29, 30]. However,
FPV combined with hydro reservoirs present the additional advantage of having the storage part of the system already
built, which, with in-depth techno-economic analysis, should prove to be the least cost option.
Javier Farfan et al. / Energy Procedia 155 (2018) 403–411 409
Javier Farfan and Christian Breyer / Energy Procedia 00 (2018) 000–000 7
Fig 4. Hourly generation profile for Southern Mexico, an example of a balancing region, obtained from the supplementary material from [22].
4. Conclusions
The benefits of a FPV and hydropower system are significant. FPV, beyond being able to cover manifold the global
demand for energy storage, has advantages that extend further. The profiles of operation of hydropower plants and
PV plans have also previously been found to work in a good degree of complementarity. FPV is capable of providing
significantly more electricity (6270 TWh in total) than hydropower from reservoirs (2510 TWh in total) at a coverage
rate of 25%, while providing balance to the FPV intermittent operation. The estimated 6.3% additional water available
through prevention of water evaporation can potentially increase hydropower electricity generation by the same ratio
under the presented conditions (about 142.5 TWh assuming 90% hydropower efficiency). Depending on the location
and additional purposes of the reservoir, higher coverage ratios could be considered, thus providing even more
capacity (and electricity), and increasing the rate of water conservation. A surface coverage of 50% (of hydropower-
based reservoirs) could increase the contribution of FPV to electricity supply to about 12,540 TWh, which would
outstrip that of hydro reservoirs by factors. However, social and environmental constraints may escalate in parallel
with increasing reservoir coverage rates.
At the same time, batteries and other alternative energy storage technologies have still a strong role to be played.
The main disadvantage of hybrid FPV-hydropower configurations is that they are geographically restricted to specific
areas and strongly affected by seasons and weather patterns, and the “virtual battery” functionality is limited to the
reservoir’s capacity. Furthermore, the availability does not necessarily match population centre (demand) locations.
However, even more renewable electricity could be provided by such regions if hybrid FPV-hydropower plants were
applied. Figures 1 and 2 show, for example, high capacities in Siberia and the Amazon jungle, two mostly unpopulated
places. On the other hand, due to the immobile nature of the concept, alternative electricity storage technologies would
still cover the demand of sectors such as mobility, portable devices, transportation, etc., playing a vital role in global
energy systems.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Lappeenranta University of Technology for providing the means and the
resources to carry on the research and Michael Child for the English proofreading.
410 Javier Farfan et al. / Energy Procedia 155 (2018) 403–411
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... According to study by [95], the potential worldwide capacity for combining FPV systems with hydropower installations is projected to be between 4,400 to 5,700 GW (equivalent to 6,270 to 8,039 TWh per year of generation). This estimation applies to the installation of FPV systems on reservoirs designated for hydropower and reservoirs with multiple purposes. ...
... Together, the shading and decreased air movement substantially lower the overall rate of evaporation from the reservoir. Based on study by [95], they estimate that integrating FPV systems with hydropower globally could reduce water evaporation by approximately 74 billion cubic meters, increasing water availability by about 6.3%. This integration is also projected to generate an additional 142.5 TWh of electricity from FPV systems installed on these reservoirs. ...
Evaluating the Horizon of Renewable Power: A Comprehensive Review of Floating Photovoltaic Systems' Performance and Technologies
Article
Full-text available
  • Oct 2024
This detailed review underscores the significant potential of floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems in fostering a sustainable energy future. It evaluates the efficiencies, applications, and environmental impacts of different FPV technologies, illustrating that FPVs are a feasible solution to the global energy crisis. The review particularly highlights hybrid FPV systems, which excel in maximizing energy production while minimizing ecological impacts. It advocates for the adoption and continuous improvement of FPV technologies, emphasizing that FPVs provide a way to meet rising global energy demands and align with the imperative for environmentally sustainable energy solutions.
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... In so doing, a techno-economic analysis of the Caribbean energy system overcoming the challenges of high fossil use and area limitation with the novel approach of using offshore FPV is performed for the power, heat, and transport sectors. FPV systems can provide alternatives to scale up RE [28,29], as observed for the case of Maldives [8], Malta [30], Mediterranean [31], Netherlands [32], and Spain [33], and reduce land-energy conflicts by co-locating solar PV systems on water bodies [28,29,34]. ...
A multi-sector, multi-node, and multi-scenario energy system analysis for the Caribbean with focus on the role of offshore floating photovoltaics
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2024
  • RENEW SUST ENERG REV
Energy solutions are rapidly needed to mitigate the problems of climate change and the high dependence on expensive imported petroleum products, which have continued to dampen Caribbean competitiveness and potential growth. This research comprehensively analyses and compares energy pathways with scenarios that contextualise the eventualities and intricacies of carbon-intensive and carbon-neutral pathway options for the Caribbean using a proven techno-economic modelling tool, the LUT Energy System Transition Model. Due to the Caribbean's geographic limitation, offshore renewable technology's role is researched in a fully integrated energy system. The results show a solar energy momentum driven by excellent resource conditions and fast-improving economic attractiveness. The electricity generation mix is led by solar photovoltaics (67-90%) and wind power (6-30%), complemented by hydropower, bioenergy, and geothermal energy. Offshore floating solar photovoltaics could supply reliable and stable energy, thus fostering a sustainable blue economy. The Carib-bean's future energy system is best characterised as a Solar-to-X Economy. Storage, sector coupling, and power-to-heat, carbon dioxide, water, fuels, and mobility solutions provide flexibility in the renewable pathways. Notably, renewable electricity and green e-hydrogen are the main precursors in Power-to-X processes. The adoption of electric vehicles spurs a cost-competitive transition in the road transport segment, and the vehicle-to-grid strategy provides additional flexibility in the system. The renewables pathways are 7-10% lower in costs than alternatives and could create new industry opportunities, jobs, and investments. This research advances the international perspective on sustainable energy transition for land-limited archipelago regions.
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... The discharge of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, can cause rapid reproduction of algae and other plankton in lakes and seas, leading to eutrophication and deterioration of water quality. Installing an FPV system can reduce the amount of solar radiation on the water surface, weakening the photosynthesis of algae in the water body and slowing down the process of eutrophication, which can improve water quality and reduce the expenses associated with water treatment [48,[63][64][65]. ...
Review of Recent Offshore Floating Photovoltaic Systems
Article
Full-text available
  • Oct 2024
Photovoltaic (PV) power generation is a form of clean, renewable, and distributed energy that has become a hot topic in the global energy field. Compared to terrestrial solar PV systems, floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems have gained great interest due to their advantages in conserving land resources, optimizing light utilization, and slowing water evaporation. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the research and application of FPV systems. First, the main components of FPV systems and their advantages as well as disadvantages are analyzed in detail. Furthermore, the research and practical applications of offshore FPV systems, including rigid floating structures and flexible floating structures, are discussed. Finally, the challenges of offshore FPV systems are analyzed in terms of their stability and economic performance. By summarizing current research on FPV systems, this overview aims to serve as a valuable resource for the development of offshore FPV systems.
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... A relação custoeficácia das FVF aumenta significativamente quando são considerados outros fatores como a redução de evaporação da água. As características desta integração são apresentadas em [6], flexibilizando a operação das UHE e possibilitando o complemento de geração a partir da usina FVF durante as horas do pico de irradiação. ...
Methodology Using Idle Capacity of Hydroelectric Substations for Sizing Floating Photovoltaic Plants
Article
  • Sep 2024
  • Lat Am Trans IEEE
Photovoltaic (PV) generation has emerged as an alternative for reducing environmental impacts. Recently, floating photovoltaic (FPV) configurations have gained popularity, utilizing the water surface of reservoirs as installation sites. Recognizing its potential, this paper proposes a methodology to harness the idle capacity of substation facilities in hydroelectric power plants (HPP) for sizing FPV plants, aiming for the maximal utilization of the substation's capacity and promoting complementarity with HPP generation. The study introduces a sizing proposal for FPV based on complementarity with the worst day of HPP generation within a defined period, aiming to utilize 100% of the substation's capacity. As a case study, the FPV potential is identified as 59.81 GWp for Belo Monte and 55.35 GWp for Itaipu. This approach seeks to enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of power generation systems by integrating FPV with existing hydroelectric infrastructure.
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... Droughts or seasonal changes can dramatically reduce water availability and electricity production. Solar PV systems can operate during these dry spells to help meet energy demands [6,7]. Hybrid renewable energy systems, which combine multiple sources such as wind, solar, hydro, and other renewable energy resources, are increasingly being researched for their ability to provide a more stable and continuous power supply [8][9][10]. ...
Performance Analysis of a 50 MW Solar PV Installation at BUI Power Authority: A Comparative Study between Sunny and Overcast Days
Article
Full-text available
  • Aug 2024
Abstract: Ghana, being blessed with abundant solar resources, has strategically invested in solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies to diversify its energy mix and reduce the environmental impacts of traditional energy technologies. The 50 MW solar PV installation by the Bui Power Authority (BPA) exemplifies the nation's dedication to utilizing clean energy for sustainable growth. This study seeks to close the knowledge gap by providing a detailed analysis of the system's performance under different weather conditions, particularly on days with abundant sunshine and those with cloudy skies. The research consists of one year's worth of monitoring data for the climatic conditions at the facility and AC energy output fed into the grid. These data were used to analyze PV performance on each month's sunniest and cloudiest days. The goal is to aid in predicting the system's output over the next 365 days based on the system design and weather forecast and identify opportunities for system optimization to improve grid dependability. The results show that the total amount of AC energy output fed into the grid each month on the sunniest day varies between 229.3 MWh in December and 278.0 MWh in November, while the total amount of AC energy output fed into the grid each month on the cloudiest day varies between 16.1 MWh in August and 192.8 MWh in February. Also, the percentage variation in energy produced between the sunniest and cloudiest days within a month ranges from 16.9% (December) to 94.1% (August). The reference and system yield analyses showed that the PV plant has a high conversion efficiency of 91.3%; however, only the sunniest and overcast days had an efficiency of 38% and 92%, respectively. The BPA plant's performance can be enhanced by using this analysis to identify erratic power generation on sunny days and schedule timely maintenance to keep the plant's performance from deteriorating. Optimizing a solar PV system's design, installation, and operation can significantly improve its AC energy output, performance ratio, and capacity factor on sunny and cloudy days. The study reveals the necessity of hydropower backup during cloudy days, enabling BPA to calculate the required hydropower for a consistent grid supply. Being able to predict the daily output of the system allows BPA to optimize dispatch strategies and determine the most efficient mix of solar and hydropower. It also assists BPA in identifying areas of the solar facility that require optimization to improve grid reliability.
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Techno-economic optimization of pumped hydro storage plants integrated with floating photovoltaic
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2025
  • APPL ENERG
Pumped hydroelectric storage plants (PHS) with integrated floating photovoltaic power plants (FPV) represent a promising solution to the challenges of the energy transition. The combination of these two technologies offers a compelling synergy, with the potential to optimize the utilization of space, reduce water loss due to evaporation, and enhance the efficiency of PV modules through natural water cooling. This paper examines the potential for integrating FPV with existing PHS. The objective is to assess the possible techno-economic benefits of hybridization of the two systems with respect to standalone PHS. An optimization problem has been developed, formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model, in which the FPV panels are directly connected to both the electrical grid and the pumps, enabling either the sale of electricity or the powering of the pumps. The model highlights important relations between the two technologies, providing a specific correlation between water evaporation and variable purchase and selling electricity prices. The developed model has been applied to three existing PHS systems in Italy, which present different integrated potential parameters (IPP). This parameter, introduced in this work, is used to assess the potential of PHS-FPV integration. For each plant four cases were considered for investigation, distinguished by different integration levels. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to assess the impact of available surface area. The outcomes demonstrate that the integration of FPV in a PHS system enhances its economic and operational performance. The NPV of the three plants investigated exhibited an increase, with a maximum of a six-fold increase compared to the baseline PHS operation. The integration also results in an increase in the equivalent hours of PHS operation promoted by the variability in electricity prices and in a reduction of the water evaporation due to the presence of FPV panel while the available surface for installation emerges as the main limiting factor for the adoption of FPV technology.
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ASPECTOS TECNOLÓGICOS E SOCIOAMBIENTAIS DOS SISTEMAS FOTOVOLTAICOS FLUTUANTES
Conference Paper
  • Nov 2020
A instalação de sistemas fotovoltaicos em espelhos d’água vem sendo apresentada como mais uma alternativa tecnológica para utilização da fonte solar fotovoltaica. Estes têm ganhado espaço em alguns países, especialmente aqueles que possuem restrição de terras para instalação de sistemas convencionais. Existem algumas variações tecnológicas dessa solução, principalmente com relação aos flutuadores, com diferentes tipos de estruturas sendo propostas. Ainda assim, a ideia básica é semelhante, utilizar uma plataforma flutuante fixada nas margens ou no fundo da água, sobre a qual são instalados os módulos fotovoltaicos. Este trabalho discute as potenciais vantagens e desafios de instalação desse tipo de sistema. Avalia-se que algumas das principais vantagens, como os ganhos de eficiência, necessitam de mais estudo, a fim de determinar se estas são suficientes para compensar algumas dificuldades, como por exemplo a não utilização (na maioria dos flutuadores) de rastreamento e o incremento de custos em relação aos projetos em terra. Os impactos ambientais também devem ser avaliados, principalmente com relação às alterações na vida marinha. Os projetos piloto em operação no país e no mundo podem auxiliar a responder muitas dessas questões. Considerando o maior custo de instalação, o custo da geração das fotovoltaicas flutuantes não parece competitivo neste momento. É necessário monitorar se, com o crescimento do número de instalações no mundo, os custos de estrutura serão reduzidos até um nível em que haja competitividade. Assim, deve-se acompanhar a evolução da tecnologia, permitindo sua competição com as demais, sem a necessidade de introdução de subsídios ou contratações dedicadas.
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Numerical simulation of extreme wave-wind conditions effects on a real field floating photovoltaic power system application
Article
  • Sep 2024
  • INT J ENVIRON SCI TE
The simulation of wave and wind loads on the 30 kWp Floating Photovoltaic system under extreme wind conditions was carried out using the Computational Fluid Dynamics method. The study focuses on real application of floating power plant, and the information obtained from the analysis is expected to contribute to the design of new or existing systems. Calculations demonstrate wave deformation in severe wind, yielding heterogeneous force distributions. The compressed air flow lines align with areas characterized by high-speed flow, with wind speeds ranging from 30 to 50 m/s. The wave kinetic energy increases due to the wind, resulting in high forces being applied to the surface of the Floating Photovoltaic platform. Turbulence Kinetic Energy exhibits higher values in front of and on the surface of the platform due to the disruption of the airflow. As a result of direct interaction with waves and wind, the front section of the floating system experiences significantly higher loads. The total pressure on the entire surface of the floating platform reaches maximum values of up to 38.677 kN/m2. When compared with various analytical methods, it has been observed that the Goda and Morison methods yield closer results. This discrepancy is believed to stem from the omission of wind interactions and platform structure considerations in the analytical methods. Overall, the analysis highlights the importance of considering wind and wave interactions in the design and protection of Floating Photovoltaic systems, and the findings contribute to the advancement of these systems.
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Optimal Energy Management of a Hybrid System Composed of PV, Wind Turbine, Pumped Hydropower Storage, and Battery Storage to Achieve a Complete Energy Self-Sufficiency in Residential Buildings
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2024
In the realm of positive building design, local energy production systems are gaining prominence. Strategies aimed at advancing this concept often involve optimizing hybrid renewable systems through various means, including sizing, maximizing power extraction, or energy management. Among these, energy management holds particular significance, especially in systems incorporating dual energy storage sources, as addressed in our work. Here, we explore the optimization of hybrid renewable systems, focusing on photovoltaic, wind, pumped storage, and battery storage as energy sources in a proposed hybrid local energy generation system. Managed by a multi-source controller, driven by an optimal energy management system, our approach aims to better fulfill the thermal needs of buildings in semi-arid climates. The system’s modeling and calculation processes are conducted within the TRNSYS environment. Utilizing TRNSYS embedded computers, the controller is programmed according to a tailored energy management algorithm. Simulation results demonstrate the system’s capability to effectively meet energy demands by leveraging renewable energy sources. Notably, our system showcases a remarkable 39% improvement in energy self-sufficiency compared to conventional approaches. Future research endeavors will explore the integration of high-resistivity phase change materials to further enhance positive building design.
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Global Energy System based on 100% Renewable Energy - Power Sector
Technical Report
Full-text available
  • Nov 2017
Technical Report "Global Energy System based on 100% Renewable Energy – Power Sector", published at the Global Renewable Energy Solutions Showcase event (GRESS), a side event of the COP23, Bonn, November 8, 2017 A global transition to 100% renewable electricity is feasible at every hour throughout the year and more cost effective than the existing system, which is largely based on fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Energy transition is no longer a question of technical feasibility or economic viability, but of political will. Existing renewable energy potential and technologies, including storage can generate sufficient and secure power to cover the entire global electricity demand by 2050 . The world population is expected to grow from 7.3 to 9.7 billion. The global electricity demand for the power sector is set to increase from 24,310 TWh in 2015 to around 48,800 TWh by 2050. Total levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) on a global average for 100% renewable electricity in 2050 is 52 €/MWh (including curtailment, storage and some grid costs), compared to 70 €/MWh in 2015. Solar PV and battery storage drive most of the 100% renewable electricity supply due to a significant decline in costs during the transition. Due to rapidly falling costs, solar PV and battery storage increasingly drive most of the electricity system, with solar PV reaching some 69%, wind energy 18%, hydropower 8% and bioenergy 2% of the total electricity mix in 2050 globally. Wind energy increases to 32% by 2030. Beyond 2030 solar PV becomes more competitive. Solar PV supply share increases from 37% in 2030 to about 69% in 2050. Batteries are the key supporting technology for solar PV. Storage output covers 31% of the total demand in 2050, 95% of which is covered by batteries alone. Battery storage provides mainly short-term (diurnal) storage, and renewable energy based gas provides seasonal storage. 100% renewables bring GHG emissions in the electricity sector down to zero, drastically reduce total losses in power generation and create 36 million jobs by 2050. Global greenhouse gas emissions significantly reduce from about 11 GtCO2eq in 2015 to zero emissions by 2050 or earlier, as the total LCOE of the power system declines. The global energy transition to a 100% renewable electricity system creates 36 million jobs by 2050 in comparison to 19 million jobs in the 2015 electricity system. Operation and maintenance jobs increase from 20% of the total direct energy jobs in 2015 to 48% of the total jobs in 2050 that implies more stable employment chances and economic growth globally. The total losses in a 100% renewable electricity system are around 26% of the total electricity demand, compared to the current system in which about 58% of the primary energy input is lost.
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Floating photovoltaic plants and wastewater basins: an Australian project
Article
Full-text available
  • Oct 2017
Floating photovoltaic is a new design solution for photovoltaic (PV) power plants; Floating PV systems (FPVSs) are normally installed on water bodies such as natural lakes or dams reservoirs, and offshore solutions are also investigated. Such technology has attracted increased worldwide attention since 2007 and medium and large FPVSs have already been deployed in several countries, such as Japan, South Korea, India and USA. The cost effectiveness of FPVS increases dramatically if the floating structure performs also other tasks, for instance the reduction of water evaporation. In this context, the possibility to integrate PV plants with the existing basins for wastewater treatment is explored; a compact FPVS without tracking with optimal orientation and distance among rows is suggested as the most simple and economic design solution. Some test cases in South Australia are suggested and analysed.
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GROWTH REGIONS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS 2016 - UPDATE ON LATEST GLOBAL SOLAR MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Presentation
Full-text available
  • Sep 2017
The installed capacity of photovoltaics (PV) shows a constant growth. The major part of PV is installed in highly developed countries. Further, there is an increasing number of emerging markets that show high growth rates of cumulative and annual PV installations. However, reliable installation rates for PV are available only for a small number of countries. Not only in emerging markets, even for some developed countries exact numbers of cumulative PV installation are rarely available. For the end of 2016 IRENA reports 2900.98 GWp of globally installed PV capacity, giving clear national specific data for 147 countries. IEA PVPS provides a number of 303.00 GWp installed by providing detailed data for 30 countries. This paper gives an overview of installed PV capacities for all countries in the world based on the examination of publically accessible data. Furthermore, an analysis of the development of cumulative PV installations in recent years is given. Resulting from this evaluation, PV installations are localized in 196 countries, representing 305.78 GWp.
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A Cost Optimized Fully Sustainable Power System for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim
Article
Full-text available
  • Apr 2017
In this paper, a cost optimal 100% renewable energy based system is obtained for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim region for the year 2030 on an hourly resolution for the whole year. For the optimization, the region was divided into 15 sub-regions and three different scenarios were set up based on the level of high voltage direct current grid connections. The results obtained for a total system levelized cost of electricity showed a decrease from 66.7 €/MWh in a decentralized scenario to 63.5 €/MWh for a centralized grid connected scenario. An integrated scenario was simulated to show the benefit of integrating additional demand of industrial gas and desalinated water which provided the system the required flexibility and increased the efficiency of the usage of storage technologies. This was reflected in the decrease of system cost by 9.5% and the total electricity generation by 5.1%. According to the results, grid integration on a larger scale decreases the total system cost and levelized cost of electricity by reducing the need for storage technologies due to seasonal variations in weather and demand profiles. The intermittency of renewable technologies can be effectively stabilized to satisfy hourly demand at a low cost level. A 100% renewable energy based system could be a reality economically and technically in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim with the cost assumptions used in this research and it may be more cost competitive than the nuclear and fossil carbon capture and storage (CCS) alternatives.
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Solar photovoltaics demand for the global energy transition in the power sector
Article
  • Aug 2018
  • PROG PHOTOVOLTAICS
The power sector is faced with strict requirements in reducing harmful emissions and substantially increasing the level of sustainability. Renewable energy (RE) in general and solar photovoltaic (PV) in particular can offer societally beneficial solutions. The LUT energy system transition model is used to simulate a cost-optimised transition pathway towards 100% RE in the power sector by 2050. The model is based on hourly resolution for an entire year, the world structured in 145 regions, high spatial resolution of the input RE resource data, and transition steps of 5-year periods. The global average solar PV electricity generation contribution is found to be about 69% in 2050, the highest ever reported. Detailed energy transition results are presented for representative countries in the world, namely, Poland, Britain and Ireland, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. The global average energy system levelised cost of electricity gradually declines from 70 €/MWh in 2015 to 52 €/MWh in 2050 throughout the transition period, while deep decarbonisation of more than 95% around 2040, referenced to 2015, would be possible. The targets of the Paris Agreement can be well achieved in the power sector, while increasing societal welfare, given strong policy leadership.
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An energy transition pathway for Turkey to achieve 100% renewable energy powered electricity, desalination and non-energetic industrial gas demand sectors by 2050
Article
  • Dec 2017
  • SOL ENERGY
an hourly resolved model. Turkey is structured into seven geographical regions and all assumptions and data are collected and applied separately for the regions. The energy transition is simulated for two scenarios: a power sector scenario and power sector plus desalination and non-energetic industrial gas demand (integrated) scenario. Turkey has an enormous solar energy potential, which leads to an installed solar PV capacity of 287 GW (71% of total installed capacity) in the power scenario and 387 GW (73% of total installed capacity) in the integrated scenario in 2050. Solar PV and other installed RE systems are balanced by storage systems to increase the flexibility of the system. Levelised cost of electricity increased slightly in the power scenario, from a fossil fuel based system with 63 €/MWhel in 2015 to a fully RE-based system with 65.4 €/MWhel in 2050. The capacity mix in the power scenario entirely built for the assumptions of the year 2050 led to a cost of 51 €/MWhel, which can also be expected in the periods beyond 2050. In the integrated scenario, however, the costs decreased from 60.3 €/MWhel to 57.3 €/MWhel, mainly due to the benefit of sector coupling. A 100% RE system reduces energy import dependency and carbon emissions, while reducing the cost of energy supply.
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A Techno-Economic Study of an Entirely Renewable Energy-Based Power Supply for North America for 2030 Conditions
Article
  • Aug 2017
In this study power generation and demand are matched through a least-cost mix of renewable energy (RE) resources and storage technologies for North America by 2030. The study is performed using an hourly resolved model based on a linear optimization algorithm. The geographical, technical and economic potentials of different forms of RE resources enable the option of building a super grid between different North American regions. North America (including the U.S., Canada and Mexico in this paper), is divided into 20 sub-regions based on their population, demand, area and electricity grid structure. Four scenarios have been evaluated: region-wide, country-wide, area-wide and an integrated scenario. The levelised cost of electricity is found to be quite attractive in such a system, with the range from 63 €/MWh el in a decentralized case and 42 €/MWh el in a more centralized and integrated scenario. Electrical grid interconnections significantly reduce the storage requirement and overall cost of the energy system. Among all RE resources, wind and solar PV are found to be the least-cost options and hence the main contributors to fossil fuel substitution. The results clearly show that a 100% RE-based system is feasible and a real policy option at a modest cost. However, such a tremendous transition will not be possible in a short time if policy-makers, energy investors and other relevant organizations do not support the proposed system.
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DOGES: Deep ocean gravitational energy storage
Article
  • Jul 2017
In isolated or weakly connected power systems, the maximum exploitation of renewable intermittent energy sources can be obtained by means of cost-effective storage technologies. In this paper hydroelectric gravity storage is extended to the deep ocean context. A sturdy cavity full of water is submerged at great depth and the hydraulic work carried out when emptying it and recovered when filling it, constitutes the storage system.The possibility of using this technique, named DOGES: Deep Ocean Gravitational Energy Storage, as well as its costs and technical aspects are discussed. Atolls and oil platforms supplied with floating Photovoltaic (PV) or wind systems connected to DOGES are also discussed.
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Compressed air energy storage integrated with floating photovoltaic plant
Article
  • Oct 2017
Floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems are an emerging technology suitable for large plants, especially, on fresh water basins. We suggest integrating a CAES system to FPV using the pipes, necessary for the buoyancy of the modular raft structure, as a compressed air reservoir. The huge basin thermal inertia allows for an isothermal compression– expansion cycle, which promises high storage efficiency.
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Floating photovoltaic plants: Performance analysis and design solutions
Article
  • Jun 2017
  • RENEW SUST ENERG REV
The analysis of the performance of photovoltaic (PV) installations mounted on a floating platform is performed. Different design solutions for increasing the efficiency and cost effectiveness of floating photovoltaic (FPV) plants are presented and discussed. Specifically, FPV solutions that exploit the advantages of additional features such as tracking, cooling and concentration, are presented. The results of experimental tests are reported and they show a considerable increase in efficiency due to the positive tracking and cooling effects. Gains due to the use of flat reflectors are also analyzed. Finally, the possibility of exploiting the floating structure on water in order to develop an integrated air storage system is presented.
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