Floating Solar: A New Frontier in Renewable Energy

Researchers from China, Thailand, Sweden, and the United States have assessed the potential for generating electricity through floating solar photovoltaic (FPV) systems worldwide using a performance model by the Sandia National Laboratories in the US. The team took into account climate conditions, the specifications of the PV and inverter, and global databases to estimate the FPV electricity generation potential. According to their findings, the 20 countries with the highest potential for FPV production had a combined capacity of generating 7,291 TWh annually when just 2.61% of reservoirs were covered. Meanwhile, the mean annual electricity generation potential from FPV built on global reservoirs was estimated at 9,434 TWh, covering 30% of reservoirs.

The study considered reservoirs larger than 0.01 km2, with 30% of their area covered, but not exceeding 30 km2. GNResound, Georeferenced Global Dam, and Reservoir and OpenStreetMap were used by the team to filter eligible reservoirs worldwide, with a total of 114,555 meeting the criteria with a total area of 554,111 km2. Researchers used data for solar radiation, temperature, and wind speed from 2001 to 2020 spanning the Synoptic 1 degree and ECMWF Reanalysis version 5 - Land databases. The team also found that covering 30% of global reservoirs with floating solar could reduce water evaporation by 106 km3.

The study is unique in that it used a scientifically rigorous method of assessing FPV generation potential, unlike previous studies that utilized empirical formulas to estimate the amount of electricity that could be generated. The results of the study could help to facilitate the installation of floating solar projects in the top 20 countries with the highest potential for generating FPV. Reducing evaporation loss will also be beneficial, as water scarcity is becoming an increasingly critical issue worldwide.