Floating PV Systems

Photovoltaic power generation is pivotal to a clean energy system and the achievement of the net zero-emissions target. To this end, it is important to enhance affordability, sustainability and exploit the modularity and synergies of application of PV technologies.

Consequently, project results are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:

• Expand the potential application and minimise the environmental impact of Floating PV (FPV) technology for inland and offshore waters.
• Significant improvement of FPV designs that reduce both CAPEX and OPEX, maximize energy output and thus reduce LCoE.

Floating PV (FPV) has huge potential in uncovered waterbodies, presenting an opportunity for solar energy production in areas where difficult terrain or land constraints make ground-mounted systems impractical. However, FPV also face a plethora of challenges for various environmental conditions such as wind, wave, currents, water level variations and humid and corrosive environment that could adversely affect the electrical output and life of the plant.

Proposals are expected to:

• Develop (and verify) predictive yield models including dynamic behaviour of the PV floats, temperature effects and wave induced mismatch losses, depending on the application environment (wave height class) and scale of implementation.
• Demonstrate advanced module and system concepts of adequate scale (min 5 MW) for electrical output optimisation considering the disturbance of environmental factors to the electrical output characteristics of PV modules and systems.
• Demonstrate system components that satisfy the structural and functional requirements for the entire lifecycle (coping with soiling and fouling, degradation, corrosion, environmental stress cracking, UV stabilisation, exposure to water, salinity, humidity, algae growth, toxicity). Address reliability and performance loss rates through the development of accelerated stress testing specifically for FPV applications, operational data, and visual inspection of FPV systems.
• Demonstrate low impact on ecosystem biodiversity by developing methodologies (models, monitoring…) and guidelines to assess the direct impacts of FPV on aquatic systems and biodiversity and consider potential mitigation measures.
• Satisfy end-of-life recycling aspects.

A plan for the exploitation and dissemination of results should include a strong business case and sound exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination. The exploitation plan should include preliminary plans for scalability, commercialisation, and deployment (feasibility study, business plan) indicating the possible funding sources to be potentially used (in particular the Innovation Fund).

Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-7 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.