Floating photovoltaic technology definition aided with multi-criteria decision analysis: a case study

ABSTRACT

The demand for electrical energy is constantly growing. Power generation from renewable sources will play a role in meeting the electricity demand. Floating photovoltaics is a solution that still needs to be explored in the design and construction phases. The floating system has important characteristics: it reduces evaporation of water and algae growth in the basins, it does not occupy land and has a high efficiency due to the evaporative cooling effect. Multi-criteria decision analysis is used to determine the best technology, between fixed or tracked structure, on a system in Sicily. Analysis provided results regarding the superiority of horizontal axis tracking systems; the Levelized Cost Of Electricity is 64.37 USD/MWh and the avoided CO₂ emissions are 23,491.60 tonnes.

KEYWORDS:

• Multi-criteria decision analysis
• floating photovoltaic system
• bifacial panel
• tracking system
• PVsyst

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).