Advantages of Floating Photovoltaic Systems
Here are some advantages of floating photovoltaic systems installed on water surfaces.
Compared to 10 years ago, the price of photovoltaic panels has plummeted by 85%, and whether large-scale deployment of photovoltaic systems is economically feasible is no longer a concern for people. The current question is: Where will these photovoltaic systems be installed?
To this end, governments of various countries provide tax incentives or subsidies to encourage people to install photovoltaic systems on rooftops, open spaces, and parking sheds, or to install them on wasteland or farmland and plant crops underneath.
Research has shown that the floating PV systems installed on water surfaces can provide electricity while reducing water evaporation and no longer occupying valuable land, making them a good choice.
Floating photovoltaic systems will significantly increase photovoltaic power generation.
A research team in the United States emphasized the benefits of large-scale deployment of floating photovoltaic systems in their latest research report. They calculated that if photovoltaic systems were deployed on 115,000 reservoirs worldwide, they would generate 9,434TWh of electricity annually, more than twice the annual electricity generation in the United States, more than 10 times the current global photovoltaic power generation. It is enough to provide electricity to over 6,200 cities in 124 countries.
The working principle of a floating photovoltaic system is not much different from that of a photovoltaic system installed on land, it is just installed on the water surface. The installation method is to fix the photovoltaic panel on the floating platform and fix it with cables anchored to the bottom of the water. There is usually a passage between each row of photovoltaic panels for electrical maintenance or inspection by personnel.
Of course, floating photovoltaic systems face an additional engineering challenge, as the water level of some bodies of water may undergo significant changes during storms or droughts. It may face strong ocean currents and hurricanes. So when the floating photovoltaic system is anchored, the anchoring cables may loosen or break due to these external forces.
Floating photovoltaic systems can also reduce water evaporation.
But the benefits of this model are also huge. The report points out that floating photovoltaic systems shield water surfaces that would otherwise be exposed to sunlight. If implemented globally, reducing water evaporation and saving enough water to supply 300 million people annually. Conversely, the temperature of the water can cool down the photovoltaic panels, making the floating photovoltaic system more effective in collecting solar energy.
Another report suggests that if California were to adopt floating photovoltaic systems on all of its 4,000 kilometer canals, it could save up to 63 billion gallons of water annually, and its total installed capacity would reach half of the clean energy needed to achieve the state's decarbonization goals.
This study found that there are approximately 26,000 reservoirs of different sizes in the United States, with a total area of 25,000 square kilometers. Therefore, it will particularly benefit from the large-scale deployment of floating photovoltaic systems. If it could cover 30% of the reservoir area in the United States, it could generate 1,900 TWh of electricity and save 5.5 trillion gallons of water resources annually.
The study also pointed out that China can generate 1,100 TWh of electricity annually, followed by Brazil and India with 865 TWh and 766 TWh, respectively. Egypt can deploy a 100 square kilometer floating photovoltaic power generation system, which can generate 66 TWh of electricity annually and save over 200 billion gallons of water.
The study further found that 40 developing countries, including Zimbabwe, Myanmar, and Sudan, can meet their energy needs by installing floating photovoltaic systems. With the development of these countries, energy demand will increase.
Compared to 10 years ago, the price of photovoltaic panels has plummeted by 85%, and whether large-scale deployment of photovoltaic systems is economically feasible is no longer a concern for people. The current question is: Where will these photovoltaic systems be installed?
To this end, governments of various countries provide tax incentives or subsidies to encourage people to install photovoltaic systems on rooftops, open spaces, and parking sheds, or to install them on wasteland or farmland and plant crops underneath.
Research has shown that the floating PV systems installed on water surfaces can provide electricity while reducing water evaporation and no longer occupying valuable land, making them a good choice.
Floating photovoltaic systems will significantly increase photovoltaic power generation.
A research team in the United States emphasized the benefits of large-scale deployment of floating photovoltaic systems in their latest research report. They calculated that if photovoltaic systems were deployed on 115,000 reservoirs worldwide, they would generate 9,434TWh of electricity annually, more than twice the annual electricity generation in the United States, more than 10 times the current global photovoltaic power generation. It is enough to provide electricity to over 6,200 cities in 124 countries.
The working principle of a floating photovoltaic system is not much different from that of a photovoltaic system installed on land, it is just installed on the water surface. The installation method is to fix the photovoltaic panel on the floating platform and fix it with cables anchored to the bottom of the water. There is usually a passage between each row of photovoltaic panels for electrical maintenance or inspection by personnel.
Of course, floating photovoltaic systems face an additional engineering challenge, as the water level of some bodies of water may undergo significant changes during storms or droughts. It may face strong ocean currents and hurricanes. So when the floating photovoltaic system is anchored, the anchoring cables may loosen or break due to these external forces.
Floating photovoltaic systems can also reduce water evaporation.
But the benefits of this model are also huge. The report points out that floating photovoltaic systems shield water surfaces that would otherwise be exposed to sunlight. If implemented globally, reducing water evaporation and saving enough water to supply 300 million people annually. Conversely, the temperature of the water can cool down the photovoltaic panels, making the floating photovoltaic system more effective in collecting solar energy.
Another report suggests that if California were to adopt floating photovoltaic systems on all of its 4,000 kilometer canals, it could save up to 63 billion gallons of water annually, and its total installed capacity would reach half of the clean energy needed to achieve the state's decarbonization goals.
This study found that there are approximately 26,000 reservoirs of different sizes in the United States, with a total area of 25,000 square kilometers. Therefore, it will particularly benefit from the large-scale deployment of floating photovoltaic systems. If it could cover 30% of the reservoir area in the United States, it could generate 1,900 TWh of electricity and save 5.5 trillion gallons of water resources annually.
The study also pointed out that China can generate 1,100 TWh of electricity annually, followed by Brazil and India with 865 TWh and 766 TWh, respectively. Egypt can deploy a 100 square kilometer floating photovoltaic power generation system, which can generate 66 TWh of electricity annually and save over 200 billion gallons of water.
The study further found that 40 developing countries, including Zimbabwe, Myanmar, and Sudan, can meet their energy needs by installing floating photovoltaic systems. With the development of these countries, energy demand will increase.
