Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy installations are growing all over the world as a promising renewable alternative to generate electricity. However, many studies have highlighted some drawbacks associated with the installation and operation of conventional solar energy power plants. Thus, floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems have been emerging as a new concept in solar energy to lessen negative environmental impacts caused by allocation of conventional PV facilities. This paper is an overview of the potential negative and positive environmental impacts caused by photovoltaic systems with particular interest on large-scale conventional and floating photovoltaic. This study addresses and compares the impacts at all phases of project implementation, which covers planning, construction, and operation and decommissioning, focusing on ambient located in the tropics. The overall impacts associated with project allocation such as deforestation (for the project implementation and site accessing), bird mortality, erosion, runoff, and change in microclimate are expected to have higher magnitudes for the implementation of conventional PV facilities. The results highlight advantages of FPV over conventional PV during the operational and decommissioning phases as well. Though, further studies are required to assess both qualitative and quantitative aspects of installations in similar areas.
Resumo:O Brasil possui grande capacidade de produção de energia elétrica usando a radiação proveniente do Sol, devido a localização de seu território no globo e as altas taxas insolação e radiação duarante o ano inteiro. O presente trabalho buscou utilizar dados sobre irradiação, insolação, energia total, radiação no plano da matriz provenientes do software System Advisor Model (SAM) versão 2014 juntamente com dados do Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INMET) acerca de condições climáticas tais como temperatura e umidade relativa do ar para comparar o potencial de três grandes cidades brasileiras, Belém do Pará, Fortaleza, capital do Ceará, e Brasília, no Centro-Oeste brasileiro, para instalação de projeto de aproveitamento da energia solar. Através da análise desses parâmetros, constatou-se que Fortaleza aparenta melhores condições para aproveitamento fotovoltaico. Entretanto, Belém se destaca pelos altos e constantes índices de radiação, irradiação e insolação, Brasília demonstrou maior variabilidade nos parâmetros durante o ano, porém há possibilidade de aplicação da tecnologia fotovoltaica em todas as cidades.
This paper proposes the use of a floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) power plant as an alternative renewable energy resource for the San Francisco River Integration Project (SFIP), which aims to deliver water to 12 million people in the Brazilian semiarid. The SFIP requires considerable amounts of energy in a region that has had increasing electricity costs and consumption of water in the past decade. By simulating an FSPV power plant at the System Advisor Model (SAM) using techniques and parameters of real FSPV projects, the results demonstrated the techno-economic feasibility of this technology linked to the SFIP. The economic outcomes are positive net present value (NPV), $2.8 million, and a payback varying from 10.5 to 11.7 years. The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of $32.17/MWh is smaller than the current energy rates paid by the SFIP administrator, and the water costs to final consumers could be reduced by 40%. In addition, the FSPV's capacity factor was 21.1%, and the system could minimize water evaporation from one of the SFIP's reservoirs by 16.7%. The system can also create revenues for the San Francisco and Parnaiba Valleys Development Company (CODEVASF) by trading the excess of electricity with the grid. This paper also analyses the FSPV's environmental impacts and its relevance under the water-energy nexus in the Brazilian Northeast. The FSPV could minimize the SFIP's operational costs, avoid environmental impacts, and improve the efficiency of water and energy management. Such components are crucial when analyzing the water-energy nexus in such a region, marked by strong competition for water access and long periods of drought.
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