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A study published in Solar Energy has quantified the potential for floating solar photovoltaic (FPV) systems on federally controlled reservoirs in the US.
A study published in Solar Energy has quantified the potential for floating solar photovoltaic (FPV) systems on federally controlled reservoirs in the US. US Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers found that these reservoirs could hold enough solar panels to generate up to 1,476 TWh of electricity annually – sufficient to power around 100 million homes. Even developing 10% of this capacity would significantly contribute to meeting the country’s energy needs. Future work will assess suitable locations, development costs and regulatory navigation. The researchers also aim to investigate other potential sites, such as smaller reservoirs, estuaries and oceans. (Hydro Review)
Why does this matter? Although FPV is a relatively new renewable energy source, it holds huge potential, particularly in locations where land available for ground-mounted solar farms is limited. Another benefit is that the cooling effect of water enables FPV panels to operate more efficiently and generate up to 15% more electricity. Additionally, as they block sunlight, water evaporation is reduced, providing an advantage where water scarcity is an issue.
Another recent study indicates that some countries could meet 100% of their electricity needs using FPV, while others could achieve between 40%-92%. Yet, just 1% of the world’s solar capacity is FPV, although Asia is leading the way. A lack of government support policies is one issue, while opposition to installations on freshwater bodies used for recreation is another challenge. There are also concerns about how FPV could impact aquatic life, which urgently needs more research.
FPV projects are currently more expensive than land-based solar developments. However, as with other technologies, this will likely come down as technology advances, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan. The analysis suggests FPV developers should partner with hydropower operators to deploy their plants on hydropower reservoirs, which would cut costs associated with constructing new transmission infrastructure.
This could be of particular interest to Rio Tinto as it operates several hydropower facilities, including in Kitimat, British Colombia and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. While the firm does not currently have any FPV plants, it is a strong investor in solar, most recently approving the construction of a 25 MW solar plant at its Kennecott copper operation in Utah.
The NREL research team also point to hydroelectric power reservoirs as a potential location for FPV installations. They add that a hybrid system of hydropower and solar has the benefit of creating a more resilient energy source. Other recent studies have drawn similar conclusions, such as research published in Nature, which noted that the number of African hydropower projects in the pipeline could be reduced if FPV systems are installed at existing hydropower reservoirs, establishing a more balanced energy mix.
As for the US, it may take another four years for the potential of FPV to be realised at scale given that President Donald Trump began his second term in office declaring a national energy emergency that will hasten permitting for new fossil fuel projects. Trump, as expected, also signed an executive order to once again pull the US out of the Paris Agreement.