Technical and technoeconomic analysis of Floating Photovoltaics on Pumped-Storage Hydropower dams
As the world is transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards intermittent renewables, there is a growing need to drive down costs of energy storage and increase the efficiency of renewable technologies through innovation. This study evaluates the benefits of placing Floating Photovoltaics on top...
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| Tipo de recurso: | tesis de maestría |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2023 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repositorio: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/406545 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/406545 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Renewable energy sources Energy storage Floating photovoltaics, Pumped hydro storage, Renewable energy, Hybrid energy systems Energies renovables Energia--Emmagatzematge Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies |
| Sumario: | As the world is transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards intermittent renewables, there is a growing need to drive down costs of energy storage and increase the efficiency of renewable technologies through innovation. This study evaluates the benefits of placing Floating Photovoltaics on top of Pumped Hydro-Storage dams, in terms of economic and technical advantages. Specifically, two Reservoirs were selected in the region of Amfylochia in Greece and compared by placing a total FPV capacity equal to 1 – 30% of the total surface area. The PV PERC Mono DBP 400 flat plate was selected and installed on pure plastic floating pontoons with 0 degree tilting and a 180° Azimuth. Using established electrical formulas, it was derived that water has a cooling effect on the PV arrays, decreasing the cell temperatures by 6°C and improving their power output efficiency and energy production by 2,19% amounting to a 44,35 MWh reduction in a year. Moreover, the as FPV blocks direct insolation on the water, it has a positive effect on the evaporation, reducing it by 95%. Looking at the technoeconomic metrics the LCOE of LPV was derived at 33,32 Euros/ MWh compared to FPV at 39,53 Euros/ MWh. The FPV performed worse in all financial metrics including ROI, Payback period, NPV and IRR due to the higher capital costs of FPV. However, a sensitivity analysis indicated that at the same Capex, FPV has a higher energy production and that installing it at a location with a higher insolation and temperature, will result to an increased power output efficiency of 4,16%. In conclusion, this report identifies that this hybrid model is still not economically beneficial, due to the higher capital costs of FPV, indicating the need for further research and development to drop down costs. |
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