Potential of floating photovoltaic plant in a tropical reservoir in Brazil

Abstract

The increasing global demand for electricity has led to a significant increase in the search for low-impact alternative sources, with solar photovoltaic being identified as one of the most feasible options. However, photovoltaic power plants require large ground areas, which represent a major constraint. If the panels are installed on water bodies, this restriction may be avoided. In this work, a simulation was performed to assess the potential of floating photovoltaic power generation in the tropical Gavião reservoir, located in the Northeast of Brazil. A payback analysis indicated that the investment in construction of the system is fully recovered in eight years, and that water losses due to evaporation can be reduced by approximately 2.6 × 106 m³/year, sufficient to supply roughly 50,000 people.