Title: Floating Photovoltaic Systems: Assessing the Technical Potential of Photovoltaic Systems on Man-Made Water Bodies in the Continental United States

Abstract

We report that floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems, also called floatovoltaics, are a rapidly growing emerging technology application in which solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are sited directly on water. The water-based configuration of FPV systems can be mutually beneficial: Along with providing such benefits as reduced evaporation and algae growth, it can lower PV operating temperatures and potentially reduce the costs of solar energy generation. Although there is growing interest in FPV, to date there has been no systematic assessment of technical potential in the continental United States. We provide the first national-level estimate of FPV technical potential using a combination of filtered, large-scale datasets, site-specific PV generation models, and geospatial analytical tools. We quantify FPV co-benefits and siting considerations, such as land conservation, coincidence with high electricity prices, and evaporation rates. Our results demonstrate the potential of FPV to contribute significantly to the U.S. electric sector, even using conservative assumptions. A total of 24?419 man-made water bodies, representing 27% of the number and 12% of the area of man-made water bodies in the contiguous United States, were identified as being suitable for FPV generation. FPV systems covering just 27% of the identified suitable water bodies could produce almost 10% ofmore » current national generation. Lastly, many of these eligible bodies of water are in water-stressed areas with high land acquisition costs and high electricity prices, suggesting multiple benefits of FPV technologies.« less

Authors:

Spencer, Robert S. ^[1]; Macknick, Jordan ^[1]; Aznar, Alexandra ^[1]; Warren, Adam ^[1]; Reese, Matthew O. ^[1]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Publication Date:

Tue Dec 11 00:00:00 EST 2018

Research Org.:

National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE; Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program

OSTI Identifier:

1489330

Report Number(s):

NREL/JA-6A20-71197
Journal ID: ISSN 0013-936X

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC36-08GO28308

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Environmental Science and Technology

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 53; Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 0013-936X

Publisher:

American Chemical Society (ACS)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

14 SOLAR ENERGY; 29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY; floating; PV; technical potential; geospatial; water; energy