Assessment of floating solar photovoltaic potential in India’s existing hydropower reservoirs

Abstract

The hydropower share of the Indian electrical sector has declined significantly over time, and a greater reliance on the complementation of thermoelectric power plants to meet energy demand. This issue has led to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, which has exacerbated climate change and altered rainfall regimes in numerous sections of the country, as well as increased potential evapotranspiration. Installing floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) plants in existing hydropower reservoirs would increase the hydropower share and reduce evaporation losses. FSPV is also assisting the country in meeting the net-zero carbon emission target and India's rapidly rising population's current and future energy needs. Using very accurate water surface data from the country's 117 hydroelectric reservoirs, this study presents a comprehensive analysis of the potential of FSPV installations in Indian hydropower reservoirs. In addition to electricity generation, CO2 savings and evaporation savings are calculated. The additional hydropower generated, as well as the number of people who could be able to benefit due to these water savings, are also estimated at reservoir level for four different scenarios considering pontoon type of floating structure. The results show that with total coverage of less than 4% area of hydroelectric reservoirs, existing hydropower plants can double their installed power capacity and increase their electricity output by 52%, producing an additional 66.56 TWh per year. In this case, water savings could total 837 million m3/year, resulting in a 1.566 TWh of additional annual hydroelectricity generation.