Renewables integration | The future looks bright
Solar and hydropower projects look set to be embarking on a mutually beneficial relationship within the renewables industry
NEW ANALYSIS BY FROST & Sullivan describes floating solar photovoltaics (FSPV) as being “a game-changer in the renewable energy sector”, and suggests that developers of such projects should collaborate with hydropower generators in order to deploy more schemes on reservoirs. In its report called Technological Advancements in Floating Solar Technologies, Frost & Sullivan say that the conventional land-based solar power business is being challenged by rising land prices brought on by growing populations. The advantage of FSPVs is that they do not require land but float on bodies of water such as reservoirs and artificial lakes. “Floating solar will increase in value as land
Below: Floating solar photovoltaics has been described as a game-changer in the renewable energy sector
scarcity-related issues become more prominent,” said Paritosh Doshi, research analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “Additionally, floating solar power plants significantly reduce evaporation on bodies of water, which will drive the adoption of floating solar during the next decade as a technology that achieves sustainable energy production while conserving water.” Significant investment in research and development by floating solar technology manufacturers has led to improved floating support materials, cutting-edge
designs, mooring and anchoring technologies, and sophisticated sun-tracking systems. “Floating solar involves expensive infrastructure comprising floating support and mooring and anchoring systems for transporting the electricity that plants generate to onshore areas,” Doshi added. “This pushes companies to minimise such costs by collaborating with hydropower plant operators, as it will allow floating solar plants to utilise the transmission infrastructure used by hydropower plants.” To tap into the growth prospects of floating solar
technologies, market participants are encouraged to: Collaborate with hydropower generators to deploy FSPVs on reservoirs that produce hydropower, which provides several advantages for hydropower and the FSPV projects. Concentrate on the regions with high solar irradiance, as FSPV plants will achieve a higher return on investment in these regions than in other regions.
Develop hybrid ocean energy technologies that integrate floating solar, wind energy, and wave energy systems to offer better economics and more consistent power generation.
40 | May 2023 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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