Technical potential and multi-benefit analysis of floating photovoltaic systems on hydro reservoirs

Abstract

Floating Solar Photovoltaic (FSPV) systems offer a more sustainable energy option than ground-mounted ones by avoiding land use and enabling decentralised power generation. This paper presents a conceptual hybrid design for an actual hydropower plant and a simulated FSPV plant, considering relevant factors. Five significant reservoir dams in India were chosen to test the proposed design, and as a novelty, the cooling effect was considered; in general, the cooling impact is dependent on the kind of supporting structure. The metrics such as generation, CO2 reductions, water savings, and extra hydropower were computed in this work by considering two kinds of floating structures. The results indicate that with total coverage of less than 20% of the hydroelectric reservoirs can double their installed power capacity. In terms of energy gain, the hydroelectric plant generated 92 percent more energy on average after integrating the floating solar power. Furthermore, the plant’s capacity factor grew by an average of 18.43 percent. The total water savings in this scenario are 134.6 mcm, resulting in an additional 34.97 GWh of annual hydroelectricity generation. The cost-benefit analysis shows that the energy produced by FSPV is the most cost-effective ranging from 2.65 INR /kWh to 3.05 INR /kWh, depending on FSPV platform.