| Central & South America


Secure and isolated locations. The remoteness of the hydroelectric sites, combined with existing security measures, ensures high levels of protection. Clean air environment. The absence of soot and pollution guarantees ideal operating conditions for sensitive AI equipment.


According to the authors, both proposals have clear benefits of abundant solar resources – the Andean Patagonia region boasts a high solar resource potential, especially during the summer months when water availability for hydroelectric generation is low; plus low-cost land – the land adjacent to the reservoirs is available at minimal expense due to its remote desert location. The authors also believe this synergy could help


mitigate Argentina’s frequent summer electricity shortages. In addition, the high modularity and simplicity of solar PV farms allow for rapid deployment and potential operation in under a year becuase complex infrastructure, such as power stations and high-voltage lines, is already in place. The proposal could also be replicated in other Andean basins in Argentina, such as the reservoirs in the provinces of Mendoza (Los Reyunos, El Tigre, Agua del Toro, Nihuil I, II, III, and Potrerillos), San Juan (Ullum, Caracoles, Punta Negra, and La Olla), Salta (Cabra Corral), among others. Furthermore, Juanico and Ducos say it could also encompass other Latin American countries, many of which have hydroelectric plants at the foothills of the Andes with significant solar resources.


Ecuadorian experience A similar study has been looking at the potential for


co-locating FPVs with existing hydropower plants in Ecuador.


As a country that is heavily reliant on hydropower, and with approximately 80% of its electricity generated by hydroelectricity in 2023, Ecuador is facing energy challenges, particularly when the availability of hydro plants is reduced during the dry seasons. And


although planned blackouts have been implemented in various provinces to conserve water supplies in reservoirs since October 2023, this hasn’t prevented unforeseen blackouts. A nationwide outage on 19 June 2024 lasted over three hours. Caused by a failure in the Milagro–Zhoray transmission line, it was compounded by a storm that affected two of Ecuador’s largest hydropower plants – Coca Codo Sinclair and Agoyán – during which sediment washed into the facilities, forcing the turbines to shut down. As Rodriguez-Gallegos et al state in the journal


Solar: “Ecuador’s heavy reliance on hydropower for electricity generation, combined with recent blackouts caused by prolonged dry seasons, underscores the importance of diversifying energy sources. The integration of FPVs with HPPs offers a promising opportunity to enhance energy security by reducing dependency on a single energy source.” Their findings reveal that out of 70 HPPs in Ecuador, 11 present favourable conditions for large- scale FPV deployment. Among these were the 40MW Cumbayá project which exhibited the most suitable conditions, supporting a maximum FPV capacity of 17MWp. Marcel Laniado de Wind HPP (213 MW) and Mazar HPP (170 MW) were also identified as optimal candidates, each with potential FPV capacities equal to their installed hydropower capacities. Furthermore, the authors add their results show that FPV systems can not only contribute additional electricity to the grid but also improve HPP performance by reducing water evaporation from reservoirs and maintaining generation capacity during dry seasons, when solar irradiation is typically higher.


And although their study primarily aims to provide scientific evidence on the potential of FPV-HPP co-location, the authors hope it can also ‘serve as a springboard for future research’, helping to guide Ecuadorian government authorities and investors in adopting FPV technology to strengthen the country’s energy infrastructure.


Above: Hydropower in Ecuador © NikkaOl / Shutterstock.com


References


Juanicó, Luis Eduardo and Ducos, Martin, Enhancing Andean Hydroelectric Plants with Solar and Battery Integration in Latin America. http://dx.doi. org/10.2139/ssrn.5129806


Rodríguez-Gallegos, C.D.; Gandhi,O.;Rodríguez-Gallegos, C.A.; Alvarez-Alvarado, M.S. Co- Location Potential of Floating PV with Hydropower Plants: Case Study in Ecuador. Solar 2025, 5,


3. https://doi.org/10.3390/ solar5010003


Benefits of floating photovoltaics


Rodriguez-Gallegos et al give an insight into the benefits of floating photovoltaics when installed at existing hydropower plants.


Infrastructure efficiency Since HPPs are already fully connected to the electrical grid, the same infrastructure can be used by FPV systems to feed electricity into transmission lines. This reduces FPV installation costs and optimises the use of existing grid capacity by increasing the total energy output. Additionally, other shared infrastructure, such as access roads, can be utilised for both HPP and FPV systems, simplifying installation and maintenance.


Water conservation FPV systems partially block sunlight from reaching the water surface, reducing evaporation, helping to retain more water in reservoirs which can then be used to generate electricity during times of need.


Seasonal synergy HPPs often face challenges during prolonged dry seasons due


to reduced water availability in their reservoirs. FPV systems can help offset this by generating more electricity during dry periods, which are typically associated with high solar irradiance. Conversely, during the rainy season, while FPV energy production may decline, HPPs can generate ample electricity due to increased water availability. This seasonal complementarity enhances overall energy reliability.


Increased capacity Expanding the energy production of HPPs often requires constructing additional dams, which can raise environmental concerns. While FPV systems also have environmental impacts that must be assessed, they may offer a more environmentally friendly alternative for boosting total energy production by leveraging existing water surfaces without the need for new infrastructure.


Environmental benefits By shading parts of the water, FPV systems can reduce or prevent algae blooms, which can improve water quality and the overall ecological conditions of the reservoir.


www.waterpowermagazine.com | August 2025 | 15


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