| Spotlight
Left: The Aquasol pilot installation is situated at the 340MW Urrá hydropower plant in the Sinú River basin in Córdoba
industry model heavily dependent on oil and coal exports, and toward a more diversified clean energy economy based on investments in renewable energy. Colombia has the third largest installed hydropower capacity in South America, at 11,726MW. The sector makes up 70% of national installed energy capacity. In 2017, hydropower produced 86% of national electricity generation, exceeding both the 70% average generation of the previous four years, which were marked by continuous droughts, and the 79% recorded in 2012.
Aquasol is a benchmark in the sector, demonstrating
the real complementarity that exists between generation by a floating photovoltaic system and generation by a hydroelectric power plant. In the same way, the project wants to reconcile all the economic, social, technical and environmental aspects of this type of facility, and generate valuable information for future deployments. Aquasol is expected to avoid over 1,540 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year, and generate over $1.2 million in additional electric power revenue over 20 years.
What were the main challenges faced during the development and installation of the floating photovoltaic system, and how were they overcome? The main challenges were related to: 1 Logistics and risk (cost) associated with deploying a system in a developing country and in a very remote area
2 The uncertain/unknown regulatory framework that could have been imposed on this type of project.
We were keen to find the right local partner with proper knowledge and technical expertise that would help us navigate the local environment, and that was willing to take on local logistics, procurement and construction risks.
What lessons have been learned from the Aquasol pilot project, and how will they inform the development of future Aquasol projects in Colombia and globally? Key lessons learned extend from the challenges listed above. Due to the complexity of the project as well as the remote location of the site, commercial
and business decisions took more collaboration and endured more delays than expected. More contingencies, more time, and more resources should be planned for in the execution of future projects.
How will Noria Energy compare the production and efficiency of the Aquasol system to that of a ground-mounted solar system installed on the shore, and what are the expected outcomes of this comparison? We are partnering with Urrá to analyze and publish energy production data collected from newly installed ground-mounted and floating solar panels as part of the Aquasol project. FPV plants on bodies of water reduce the impact of the thermal coefficient through the cooling effects of evaporation and wind ventilation. This can result in a slightly higher yield compared to land-based PV systems. The temperature of FPV modules can be 5–10 °C lower than that of ground-based installations. Hydroelectric dams operating in conjunction with FPV have been proven to optimize energy generation and increase system reliability compared to land-based PV systems due to the cooling effect of water. In addition to improved yields, the PV module can
provide shading (depending on the module’s design) and limit water evaporation from wind. Evaporation represents a significant loss factor of managed water resources worldwide, with reported values as high as 40% of the total volume of water storage.
In terms of scaling up, what are the considerations and challenges in implementing larger-scale floating solar systems in combination with hydroelectric dams?
In part due to competition for land for solar systems, deployment, and the associated costs derived from licensing and land preparation, developing solar plants has become increasingly challenging. This is especially true in densely populated areas, land-scarce countries, or regions with high land prices. Coupling FPV and hydropower plants offers a way
to share existing hydropower infrastructure such as transmission extensions and substations. It also eases time and siting constraints, such as land acquisition.
www.waterpowermagazine.com | October 2023 | 11
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53
