Floating Photovoltaic Plants: Exploring the Water-Energy Nexus

Abstract

This paper presents a state-of-the-art review on floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems and the associated water-energy nexus (WEN). Electricity generation, installed power, yield, power density and, when available, FPV and ground-mounted PV (GPV) systems comparison, are analyzed; considering the water resource, aspects such as yearly water saving/installed power, types of reservoirs for FPV systems worldwide and methodologies for estimation of water evaporation reduction are investigated. The main conclusions are a) most of the publications focus on FPV scenarios, using simulation tools and/or calculation-based methodologies for preliminary parameters estimation; b) half of the studies disregard FPV plants associated water evaporation reduction; c) significant differences between measured and simulated FPV generation values are identified; d) few papers compare FPV and GPV efficiency using measured data from systems installed close to each other; e) dams and hydropower reservoirs are the most used options for FPV plants; f) the adoption of a linear relationship between the water surface occupancy rate and the evaporation reduction can introduce large deviations from measured values, affecting the planning of strategies for the water use in the long term.