| Floating solar


“Along with its other co-benefits, FPV can play an important role in bolstering food security in Southeast Asia through incorporation with the region’s fast- growing aquaculture industry,” said Prateek Joshi, NREL energy engineer and lead author of the report. “This emerging combination of aquaculture and


photovoltaics, commonly referred to as AquaPV, can allow countries to colocate energy and food production on existing natural or artificially created water bodies while minimizing the overall environmental impact of both sectors,” Joshi said.


Renewable energy goals In Southeast Asia, the pursuit of ambitious renewable


energy goals has led countries to seek innovative solutions to meet their targets. Floating photovoltaic (FPV) technology has emerged as a promising avenue to turn these aspirations into reality. As a collective effort, ASEAN nations have set a commendable target of achieving 35% of installed power capacity from renewable sources by 2025. This ambitious objective has fueled their interest in exploring bold and creative approaches, including the development of FPV systems.


“FPV is an option that can allow many of these countries to take advantage of high-quality solar resources to combat challenges such as land availability or rugged geographies that can make siting traditional renewable energy sources difficult,” said Sika Gadzanku, the NREL energy technology and policy researcher who led the development of this analysis. “They also offer resilience opportunities in regions that use a lot of hydropower but are facing droughts and significant changes in rainfall patterns.” “Southeast Asia leads FPV deployment, and


Thailand is emerging as a major player in this space. Our FPV work has really been demand-driven – several country partners and developers expressed their interest in FPV and in turn, we embarked on our first Southeast Asia-specific FPV analysis four years ago,” Gadzanku said.


Gadzanku has rapidly emerged as an expert in the field of floating photovoltaic (FPV) research and development, with a remarkable track record over the past four years. Her comprehensive investigations into FPV development in Southeast Asia include a detailed report in 2021, focusing on barriers to FPV deployment, and an insightful analysis in 2022, exploring the operational benefits of FPV-hydropower hybrid systems. Recently, from June 13 to 16, 2023, Gadzanku, accompanied by Sadie Cox (USAID-NREL Partnership Portfolio Manager) and Derina Man (Advanced Energy Partnership for Asia program lead), journeyed to Manila, Philippines, to participate in the Asia Clean Energy Forum. During this event, Gadzanku actively contributed


to two sessions. On June 13, she presented as part of Session 4.1, shedding light on the “Current Status and Future Trends in Renewable Energy in Asia and the Pacific.” Her presentation centered around the findings from the technical potential assessment of FPV in the region. On June 14, she participated in the “Spotlight Session: Digital Technology as a Driver of Decarbonization,” where she highlighted the unique geospatial capabilities of the RE Data Explorer tool and the invaluable FPV data set accessible through it. Building upon the groundwork laid by previous FPV studies, Gadzanku and her team from NREL utilized


existing data on waterbodies, infrastructure, and energy resources to identify areas with the highest potential for FPV development. Their meticulous analysis revealed that all ASEAN countries possess significant potential for FPV energy generation. Recognizing the importance of data in making informed decisions during FPV project development, the USAID and NREL teams have made this critical technical potential data available through the RE Data Explorer tool. This valuable resource will aid developers, policymakers, and other stakeholders in the region as they embark on FPV projects. Chatchai Mawong, assistant governor of power


plant engineering and construction at the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, emphasized the significance of accurate and detailed site location data, given the geographic variations in Southeast Asian countries. It plays a vital role in determining project feasibility, technology selection, project costs, and environmental sustainability. This newly added FPV data set to the RE Data


Explorer marks a milestone, granting Southeast Asian stakeholders access to more comprehensive analyses to assess renewable energy generation. Gadzanku expressed her excitement over the potential of this data to inspire discussions and inform decisions regarding FPV’s role in the region. She acknowledged that this achievement would not have been possible without the collective efforts of previous FPV studies and the continuous development of the RE Data Explorer tool. With its public accessibility, the data becomes a valuable resource for a wide range of stakeholders, including energy planners, modelers, developers, and researchers. It will undoubtedly bolster detailed FPV research activities, modeling, and analysis efforts across the region.


Large projects commissioned A number of countries are making waves with their


groundbreaking floating solar projects. At the end of June, China successfully launched the Kela photovoltaic (PV) power station– the world’s largest hybrid solar-hydropower plant. Constructed by Yalong River Hydropower Development, also known as Yalong Hydro, the Kela station aims to expand the renewable energy capacity of the Yalong River basin and contribute significantly to China’s sustainable energy goals. The plant commenced full-scale operations on 28 June, marking a groundbreaking achievement in the country’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions. Conceptualized by the Design and Research


www.waterpowermagazine.com | August 2023 | 45


Above: South America’s largest floating solar project has been launched at Colombia’s Urrá Dam


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