A Best Practice Guide for Floating Photovoltaic Systems
Solar Power Europe, the representative trade organization of the European solar energy industry, has released its first best practice guide document for the floating photovoltaic (FPV) segmented market.
According to data from Solar Power Europe, from 2019 to 2022, the FPV market grew at an average compound annual growth rate of 51%, with capacity increasing from 1.89GW to 5.7GW. Analysts estimate that the potential FPV capacity of artificial water bodies worldwide is between 3-7TW.
The report states that the floating PV system is still an emerging technology in Europe, with global capacity mainly concentrated in China. Of the approximately 451 MW grid connected FPV systems in Europe, 61% (280 MW) are located in the Netherlands, followed by France, Austria, Germany, and Spain.
In addition to market statistics, Solar Power Europe's report also sees FPV systems as a multifaceted solution to address the challenges of climate change. Rising temperatures will reduce agricultural freshwater supply, leading to water shortages worldwide, including in Southern and Western Europe.
In addition, people are familiar with carbon emissions and their impact on nature, as well as the energy price crisis that has influenced most regions of the world since the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, all of which have accelerated the deployment of renewable energy. In addition, the scarcity and use of land have also received increasing attention from governments and organizations around the world.
Solar Power Europe states that floating photovoltaic solutions can help alleviate these concerns. Utilizing existing artificial water bodies for solar power generation cannot only continue to promote renewable energy, but also free up land for other purposes. It can maintain the original function of the water body and generate electricity. The study also shows that solar modules supported on the water surface can reduce evaporation, which is undoubtedly a great blessing for areas susceptible to drought.
From a technical perspective, the cooling effect of the water below the solar cell module can improve efficiency and keep the operating temperature more stable within the ideal range. This is similar in principle to the effect of agricultural photovoltaics, which involves the dual use of land cultivation and solar energy. The water vapor emitted by plants below the solar modules can cool the modules and improve efficiency.
However, in Europe, the development of FPV systems is constrained by factors such as insufficient policy support, long approval waiting times, and social backlash. The FPV system is a novel and unique technology, which means that without standardized licensing channels, the licensing process may become complex and bureaucratic. Solar Power Europe also pointed out that people believe FPV systems will have an impact on vision and the environment, leading to social opposition.
Best practices
The report points out that licensing procedures may vary among countries.
FPV devices typically require special permits/licenses... In addition, the lack of specific licensing regulations for FPV systems can also lead to obstacles. Because this brings legal uncertainty to investors, they need to know what licenses are required and what documents need to be prepared in order to successfully obtain licenses, while national authorities need to evaluate license requirements.
The construction law (which may be complex as hydropower stations are typically fixed on waterbeds or riverbanks), legislation for specific water bodies, and environmental permits (depending on the nature of the relevant water bodies as man-made sites typically receive less protection) all require specific scrutiny in order to enable FPV hydropower stations to make progress.
Other noteworthy suggestions involve operation and maintenance. Introducing water naturally complicates the operation process of solar photovoltaic power plants.
The anchoring and mooring of the system, as well as factors such as waves, water level changes, wind force, and water depth, all pose unique challenges to operation and maintenance. The anchoring and mooring systems are also the main reasons why FPV systems are more expensive than ground mounted systems.
The components in the FPV system also receive attention from birds. Due to the relative concealment of many systems and their distance from humans. In addition, with the continuous flow of water and temperature fluctuations, the FPV system is more likely to experience "component mismatch", which means that the energy of the entire system is uneven due to dirt.
The report states that if the project uses double-sided components, this situation will be even more severe. Due to the instability of the foundation, the tilt or direction of the components in the FPV array can also undergo rapid changes. This may exacerbate the situation of component mismatches and cause problems with the entire string.
One mismatch solution recommended by Solar Power Europe is to use a power optimizer or component level power electronics device. Extract the maximum power from each component without affecting the entire string.
The report states that this can increase production, thereby improving the return on investment for FPV developers. The report also highlights specific issues related to electrical and operational safety, remote monitoring, and aquatic animals during the construction phase, with the most notable being large semi-aquatic rodents that can damage cables. Additionally, it includes some best practice case studies from Europe.
According to data from Solar Power Europe, from 2019 to 2022, the FPV market grew at an average compound annual growth rate of 51%, with capacity increasing from 1.89GW to 5.7GW. Analysts estimate that the potential FPV capacity of artificial water bodies worldwide is between 3-7TW.
The report states that the floating PV system is still an emerging technology in Europe, with global capacity mainly concentrated in China. Of the approximately 451 MW grid connected FPV systems in Europe, 61% (280 MW) are located in the Netherlands, followed by France, Austria, Germany, and Spain.
In addition to market statistics, Solar Power Europe's report also sees FPV systems as a multifaceted solution to address the challenges of climate change. Rising temperatures will reduce agricultural freshwater supply, leading to water shortages worldwide, including in Southern and Western Europe.
In addition, people are familiar with carbon emissions and their impact on nature, as well as the energy price crisis that has influenced most regions of the world since the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, all of which have accelerated the deployment of renewable energy. In addition, the scarcity and use of land have also received increasing attention from governments and organizations around the world.
Solar Power Europe states that floating photovoltaic solutions can help alleviate these concerns. Utilizing existing artificial water bodies for solar power generation cannot only continue to promote renewable energy, but also free up land for other purposes. It can maintain the original function of the water body and generate electricity. The study also shows that solar modules supported on the water surface can reduce evaporation, which is undoubtedly a great blessing for areas susceptible to drought.
From a technical perspective, the cooling effect of the water below the solar cell module can improve efficiency and keep the operating temperature more stable within the ideal range. This is similar in principle to the effect of agricultural photovoltaics, which involves the dual use of land cultivation and solar energy. The water vapor emitted by plants below the solar modules can cool the modules and improve efficiency.
However, in Europe, the development of FPV systems is constrained by factors such as insufficient policy support, long approval waiting times, and social backlash. The FPV system is a novel and unique technology, which means that without standardized licensing channels, the licensing process may become complex and bureaucratic. Solar Power Europe also pointed out that people believe FPV systems will have an impact on vision and the environment, leading to social opposition.
Best practices
The report points out that licensing procedures may vary among countries.
FPV devices typically require special permits/licenses... In addition, the lack of specific licensing regulations for FPV systems can also lead to obstacles. Because this brings legal uncertainty to investors, they need to know what licenses are required and what documents need to be prepared in order to successfully obtain licenses, while national authorities need to evaluate license requirements.
The construction law (which may be complex as hydropower stations are typically fixed on waterbeds or riverbanks), legislation for specific water bodies, and environmental permits (depending on the nature of the relevant water bodies as man-made sites typically receive less protection) all require specific scrutiny in order to enable FPV hydropower stations to make progress.
Other noteworthy suggestions involve operation and maintenance. Introducing water naturally complicates the operation process of solar photovoltaic power plants.
The anchoring and mooring of the system, as well as factors such as waves, water level changes, wind force, and water depth, all pose unique challenges to operation and maintenance. The anchoring and mooring systems are also the main reasons why FPV systems are more expensive than ground mounted systems.
The components in the FPV system also receive attention from birds. Due to the relative concealment of many systems and their distance from humans. In addition, with the continuous flow of water and temperature fluctuations, the FPV system is more likely to experience "component mismatch", which means that the energy of the entire system is uneven due to dirt.
The report states that if the project uses double-sided components, this situation will be even more severe. Due to the instability of the foundation, the tilt or direction of the components in the FPV array can also undergo rapid changes. This may exacerbate the situation of component mismatches and cause problems with the entire string.
One mismatch solution recommended by Solar Power Europe is to use a power optimizer or component level power electronics device. Extract the maximum power from each component without affecting the entire string.
The report states that this can increase production, thereby improving the return on investment for FPV developers. The report also highlights specific issues related to electrical and operational safety, remote monitoring, and aquatic animals during the construction phase, with the most notable being large semi-aquatic rodents that can damage cables. Additionally, it includes some best practice case studies from Europe.
