Estimation of Solar Electricity Generation from Floating Photovoltaics Installed in Water Dams in the Island of Crete, Greece

Abstract

The role of solar energy for heat and power generation is very important during the transition to a low carbon economy. Floating solar photovoltaics consists of a novel and rapidly growing sustainable energy technology having many advantages compared to conventional ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems. Aim of the current research is the investigation of the possibility of installing floating photovoltaics in the existing water reservoirs in the island of Crete, Greece. Data on existing water dams in Crete were used and the nominal power of floating photovoltaics as well as their potential for electricity generation were evaluated. It has been estimated that the nominal power of floating photovoltaics that can be installed in these water dams, with coverage ratio at 0.1 to 0.3, varies between 55.76 MWp to 167.3 MWp while the annual electricity generation from the floating photovoltaics varies between 78.3 GWh to 234.9 GWh. The annual electricity generation from the abovementioned floating panels corresponds at 2.57 % to 7.72 % of the annual electricity consumption in Crete in 2018. Our study indicates that floating solar photovoltaics can be installed in the existing water dams in Crete generating significant amounts of green electricity having also various environmental co-benefits. The current work could be useful to policy makers, local and regional authorities, energy companies as well as to owners of the water dams in the island.