A team of researchers from China has analyzed the potential of Floating PV Systems in the country and has found that it can play a significant role in meeting the growing energy demand while addressing regional differences in land and water availability for PV systems. The study looked at 875 reservoirs across China and estimated that the technology has the potential to generate up to 1,423.8 TWh of power annually.
Compared to traditional ground-based or rooftop-based solar systems, such as ground on grid solar systems and rooftop on grid solar systems, pv carport system or agrivoltaic system, the Floating PV System offers unique advantages. As it doesn't take up any land or require rooftops, it can overcome challenges related to low land availability and high rental costs. The researchers believe that Floating PV Systems are the next frontier in the solar industry and can offer a game-changing solution for meeting China's energy needs.
The study is part of China's efforts to transition towards a more sustainable energy system and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. While the share of renewable energy in the country's energy mix has been increasing in recent years, there is still a long way to go before the country can achieve its ambitious renewable energy targets. The researchers hope that their findings will encourage more investments in Floating PV Systems and accelerate the transition towards a clean energy future.
For the evaluation of the potential for PV systems, the team used the GIS-based multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to estimate available land area, selecting areas with an altitude less than or equal to 3000 m and with total radiation greater than or equal to 1,600 kWh/m2, 1,300 kWh/m2, and 1,100 kWh/m2 for three different China's macro-regions dubbed Class I, II, and III solar resource areas, respectively.
The researchers excluded natural lakes from consideration since Floating PV Systems can block sunlight from the water surface and damage their ecological environment. Therefore, to estimate the potential for Floating PV Systems installed capacity, the paper includes 875 representative reservoirs – 76% of China's total.
