A research team has investigated the feasibility of inland floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems and they have concluded that around 10% of the world’s inland water reservoirs could host plants that deliver a combined 22 TW (terawatts) of electricity. This opens up an underutilized option for clean energy generation that circumvents the need for vast tracts of land and the potential is exciting.
Renewable solar energy could shift in a new direction around the world
The team that assessed the status of inland FPV installations consisted of researchers from around the world who collated their findings for a general overview of the viability of this form of solar power generation.
Included in the study was an analysis of the performance of trackers, which are mechanisms that move the panels to follow the sun for optimal energy harvesting. Researchers also looked at the effectiveness of bifacial panels, which can capture sunlight on both sides, and diverse tilt angles, which enhance energy capture according to latitude, seasonal changes, and space.
One of the intentions of the study was to demonstrate the efficiency and viability of this form of power generation to potential investors in the hopes of drawing new funding to develop the sector.
In different offshore energy news, wind farm technology may be about to surge forward with the approval of a design for a futuristic floating “wall of wind turbines”. The innovative offshore renewable energy infrastructure marvel is intended to be installed on the sea and there’s nothing else like it being developed anywhere in the world.
What did the international collaborative study entail?
The research data generated on the deployment of inland floating photovoltaic installations is comprehensive and insightful, covering yield and electrical performance. The influence of FPVs on water and electricity savings for multiple countries was also scrutinized, and Carlos D. Rodríguez-Gallegos, corresponding author of the research, explained:
“This was made possible by leveraging the largest global databases of FPV installations, over 1,100 systems as of 2022, alongside the largest worldwide reservoir database applied in FPV.”
Much of the team’s data is based on a Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) FPV global database of inland commercial installations from 2022 that looked at 1,142 different systems. Another database of both natural and artificial reservoirs that was maintained as part of the SERIS Geographic Information System (GIS) platform and covered a total area of 857,510 square miles was also drawn on for the study.
The team explained that the SERIS FPV global database had been maintained by SERIS for over eight years and is probably the largest database of its kind. It contains information on FPV systems in operation totaling 5.9 GW at the end of 2022.
What interesting findings did the study deliver?
It has emerged that almost 90% of all inland floating solar capacity is in Asia and the leading country is China with almost 50% of the cumulative installed capacity. The research report states:
“The dominance of East Asian regions, namely mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, is thanks to their attractive feed-in tariffs, ambitious renewable energy targets, and regulations that favor FPV. Nevertheless, other regions, namely India and Israel, have been catching up since 2019 and are now within the top 10 regions.”
It was also noted that since 2013, average output has been increasing:
“The median size of FPV plants has grown from 0.09 MW to 1.40 MW in 2022, while the median power density has increased from 82 W/m2 to 123 W/m2 in the same timeframe.”
Installation cost declines are ongoing over time, as highlighted by research author Rodríguez-Gallegos:
“We noted that FPV systems can be economically viable under the right project conditions. For example, one project in India had a Capex as low as $0.41 per watt, which demonstrates that FPV can be competitive with other renewable energy options.”
In the future, the research team plans to explore offshore FPV applications with the same intensity, investigating energy potential, innovative designs, and the challenges of costs and maintenance.
As mentioned above, Asia is the leader in solar power technology, and Japan proves it with Japan has unveiled what’s being described as the world’s first solar super-panel. The country is reportedly going to develop the technology until the equivalent power of 20 nuclear reactors is being generated.