Estimation of Solar Electricity Generation from Floating Photovoltaics Installed in Water Dams in the Island of Crete, Greece

Abstract

The role of solar energy for heat and power generation is very important during the transition to a low carbon economy. Floating solar photovoltaics consists of a novel and rapidly growing sustainable energy technology having many advantages compared to conventional ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems. Aim of the current research is the investigation of the possibility of installing floating photovoltaics in the existing water reservoirs in the island of Crete, Greece. Data on existing water dams in Crete were used and the nominal power of floating photovoltaics as well as their potential for electricity generation were evaluated. It has been estimated that the nominal power of floating photovoltaics that can be installed in these water dams, with coverage ratio at 0.1 to 0.3, varies between 55.76 MWp to 167.3 MWp while the annual electricity generation from the floating photovoltaics varies between 78.3 GWh to 234.9 GWh. The annual electricity generation from the abovementioned floating panels corresponds at 2.57 % to 7.72 % of the annual electricity consumption in Crete in 2018. Our study indicates that floating solar photovoltaics can be installed in the existing water dams in Crete generating significant amounts of green electricity having also various environmental co-benefits. The current work could be useful to policy makers, local and regional authorities, energy companies as well as to owners of the water dams in the island.

Integration of Floating Solar Photovoltaic Systems with Hydropower Plants in Greece

“…They proposed the delay of the energy transition for some years for a better preparation of the national plan. Vourdoubas [31] has estimated the solar electricity generation from FPVs in water reservoirs in Greece. The author estimated that the nominal power of the FPVs that can be installed in the existing 128 water reservoirs in the country, covering 10% to 30% of the water surface, varies between 4.77 GW to 14.31 GW while the annual solar electricity generation varies between 6,435.2 GWh to 19,305.6 GWh.…”

“…It is predicted that the power of the hydro-pumpedstorage systems in Greece will be at 2.5 GW by 2030 compared to current absence of these energy storage systems. Vourdoubas [30] has investigated the possibility of using FPVs in the hybrid energy system in the island of El Hierro, Spain and in the planned hybrid energy system in the island of Crete, Greece. The author stated that the installation of FPVs on the water reservoirs of the hybrid energy plant in El Hierro, with coverage ratio 30%, increases its annual electricity generation by 6.06% while in the planed hybrid energy system in Crete by 33.78%.…”

“…In some regions the nominal power of the installed FPV systems is higher than the installed power of the hydroelectric stations while in others is lower. Taking into account that the total installed electric power in Greece, in 2020, was at 19,067 MWel [31] the estimated nominal power of the FPV systems, at 3,861 MWp, corresponds at 20.25% of total installed electric power in the country. (1) The water surface in Smokovo hydropower station (at 104 MWel) has not been included in the estimations.…”

“…The total solar electricity generation at 5,212.35 GWh/year is higher than the electricity generated by the existing hydropower plants at 4,020 GWh/year (Table III). Taking into account that the total electricity demand in Greece, in 2020, was at 51,900 GWh/year [31], the estimated annual solar electricity generation corresponds to 10.04 % of the total annual electricity demand in the country. It should be noted that Spencer et al [27] have estimated that installation of FPV systems in water reservoirs in USA can generate electricity equal at 9.6 % of the annual electricity demand in the country.…”

Assessment of the Potential of Installing Floating Photovoltaic Systems in Existing Water Reservoirs in Greece

“…They also mentioned that their estimations indicated that roughly around 15,000 M 3 to 25,000 M 3 of water can be saved annually for each MWp of FPVs installed in basins that is very important in arid regions while the annual energy yield can be increased by 10%. Reference [18] has estimated the potential for electricity generation from FPVs installed in the existing water reservoirs in the island of Crete, Greece. The author stated that the estimated nominal power of floating photovoltaics that can be installed in these water dams, with coverage ratio at 0.1 to 0.3, varies between 55.76 MWp to 167.3 MWp while the annual electricity generation from the floating photovoltaics varies between 78.3 GWh to 234.9 GWh.…”