Benefits of pairing floating solar photovoltaics with hydropower reservoirs in Europe

• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2022.112989
• Publication Date: 2022-11-08T22:59:43Z
• Authors: G. Kakoulaki; R. Gonzalez Sanchez; A. Gracia Amillo; S. Szabo; M. De Felice; F. Farinosi; L. De Felice; B. Bisselink; R. Seliger; I. Kougias; A. Jaeger-Waldau
• Keywords: hydropower; reservoir; floating solar photovoltaic; 13. Climate action; water savings; 11. Sustainability; 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; 02 engineering and technology; 7. Clean energy; evaporation

Achieving carbon-neutrality is increasing the demand of renewable electricity which raising competition for land and associated acquisition costs. Installation floating photovoltaic (FPV) on existing hydropower reservoirs offers one solution to limited availability while providing solar electricity, leveraging water bodies, reducing evaporation losses. This work assesses potential output FPVs at regional national levels 337 in EU27 considering four scenarios two types floaters. Evaporation, losses savings due installation are also estimated using climatic parameters year 2018. The reservoirs' total 9380 mcm. equal installed capacity as plants, has generate 42.31 TWh covering 2.3% reservoir area. In this case, up 557 mcm could be saved by installing FPV. FPVs' multiple benefits offered compatible with EU's goals net zero emissions more autonomy from imported fossil fuels energy transformation.