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Solar Electricity Generation from Floating Photovoltaics Installed in Water Dams: A Case Study from the Island of Crete, Greece

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Ioannis Vourdoubas
Ioannis Vourdoubas
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Abstract

This chapter investigates the possibility of installing floating photovoltaics in the existing water reservoirs in the island of Crete, Greece. Solar energy is very important for heat and power generation in the current era of climate change and the global efforts for its mitigation. Deployment of solar photovoltaics for electricity generation grows rapidly in all countries. Installation of floating solar photovoltaics in water bodies consists of a new and promising technology. Floating solar photovoltaics can be installed in existing hydroelectric plants transforming them to hybrid energy systems generating both hydro and solar electricity. 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 results are important since they indicate that deployment of FPVs as an alternative technology to terrestrial PVs currently used in Crete has many benefits combining solar electricity generation with water savings and less use of valuable land. 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. According to our research, it is possible to put floating solar photovoltaics in Crete's existing water dams, producing large amounts of green electricity with a variety of additional environmental benefits. Policymakers, local and regional authorities, energy firms, and owners of the island's water dams could all benefit from the current study. ________________________________________________________________________
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Solar Electricity Generation from Floating
Photovoltaics Installed in Water Dams: A
Case Study from the Island of Crete,
Greece
John Vourdoubas a*

ABSTRACT
          
        
 ! 
           
  !   
          
"        # 
         
       !    

 !            
 $%
$&   ''() *+  %)(& *+   ! 
    (,& + -&./
+!   "01
   01 !!   
 !
!   !      
    -'(2  ((-2   ! 
!    -$%, 3 !    !
    4     ! 
 !      
0 5  !      
4 ! !!
________________________________________________________________________
a 107B El. Venizelou str., 73132, Chania, Crete, Greece.
++ Consultant Engineer;
*Corresponding author: E-mail: ivourdoubas@gmail.com;
Keywords: Crete-Greece; floating photovoltaics; solar electricity; water
reservoirs.
1. INTRODUCTION
 6  !   5   
!! 
      !   !  
        !
! 7%8            
  !        " 
       ! 
  !# !
 7-#'8 *9"01: 
    !   7.8 
       ! !    
5!#3!
        
 ! 7%8 "01       !#
!       5 "01   !
!  
!#!  ! 
   !         
      ! 5; ;
"017)8!! "01
"01   
 !
  !  "01   !
7(#%%8 ! # !!
"017%-%&8  !!
   !  * #01   
 !!
%$$*+7%.8
Aim of the current work is the estimation of the nominal power of floating
photovoltaics which can be installed in man-made water dams in Crete as well
as the solar electricity that can be generated by them.
!  5!
     <        
   5  !    !  
      !!       
5
2. LITERATURE SURVEY
-
 ! !          ! 
           
!
A. Floating solar photovoltaics installed in water bodies
=7'8 #01!
 "01#   !       
            %$#%'2
 ##01  "01
!5!
  !   ,$23 5  
 !        5  "01 
 
 !!!%$2
  ! = 7%'8  !   "01#
  !   "01       
      
"01#  .-'%+
%$)%) +! = 7%)8    >! 
!  #  !    
!>!  !
!)$2     ?   
!           
!# !=7%(8  
       !   
"01 %$*+-'2
 !# !01   
!   "01    
 @"01-$2
  !# ! 01 = 7%,8    "01 !
01  !
"01  !    !   
 !# !013 "01
!    5      !
>!   =7.8 
!"01
 !# ! 01!:  !  
   :  ! >!  : !
:!:! :
5!:! 01 !:
:!5>!=7%/8  !
"01    !   @ 
 >!"015
!"01!  !!
     >!    = 7-$8 
        ! 
! "0155 
&
   = 7&8  @ !   "01
       
          
!"01 =7-8!!
   01      "01
!!!1!
"01 @!#
@5  
  =7-%8  
"01 @A
! ! !"01A
!# ! 01    !  "01  
&-"01 !%.' 
   01   = 7--8  !  !
   !  ! 
 !  !/)( 
 -('$2
  @    ! !#   
!(-'$2B!'(./2
! =7-&8 
 !"01     3!
!!!
 !  
%'$$$#-$$$$*&C*+"01
B. Floating solar photovoltaics on water bodies in several countries
= 7-.8     #01    %.)
   3  ! 
  !   %2       
   !    !!    ',2
=7(8 
  !   %$2  
!"01!&%2 6 
  = 7-'8    ! "01  D 
!"01D
  !      
!@      5  
    ,.=7,8  !  !
#"01   5 A B  !  5
A   #    5  
! '$$$5 - -$256
!  "01 !%$$$ 5 - #
! %)2BE>! =7-)8
! !  "01   5 F!!  
!      &-5   
&-/.       "01   5 
  $'#$) ! -)2 6 !   
.
!= 7/8 @ 
G! "01!
&.$% 5     !   
!     "01  !  -/&- +
= 7-(8  !    
0 !!  !  %$$+ #
01    !   !    
 !-
!!  '%) +    .-/+    !# !
 = 7-,8  !   
!3!!"01
!   #  5 !   3
! !     
"01!  6=7-/8
!     
 !   01    ! 
&'   !# !     "01 ! 
    %'#-2    
"01%)$+!-'$$5 -
! = 7%$8   
         F  !
%/'5 !
    !  %&2  !
 !=7&$8  !
  "01 ! "01
          
      3 !
-('$$$ -"01.-*+($+
!=7&%8 !"01
 !         
&&(BE-(
 "01 >!   
 .-&%+ -&2!
   "01 !  !    
!'2=7%%8 !@
 6!"01
!!%,$$$5 -!
!   !    "01    
    -,$+=7&-8  !
!"01  B?
 !"01  
! ## B?&$2
        )$)2  
   &&(,2 = 7&&8    
"01!  
   !   5  
=7&.8!"01
       ?   !
'
          
HI!!
3. WATER AVAILABILITY AND WATER DAMS IN CRETE
  #!! !
 /)(  0 !    
          @  
7--8 
    !   !   
 %$''/ *&       !
%!
1  
!!!!5!
 !#!  !
 ! ,$2!
!!!!7--8
Table 1. Large water dams in Crete [1,2]
Name of
water dam
Location-
Prefecture
Operating
since
Capacity
(mil. M3)
Height
(M)
Water
surface
(M2) 2
0  =  -$$, --' '' %($$$$$
3  ?5 -$%- &)- )% %)$$$$$
1   -$%. )$ )(
 ?5 -$$' %(/ &, --)$$$
F  J %/,( %). .. %$'$$$$
" 
?5 -$$' %/( () %$$$$$$
 %$''/ ''()$$$
Sources: 1[12], -[13]
5!    ,.'$5 - 
 '',5 -$$))26

4. FLOATING SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS IN WATER BODIES
"    
  !      
 ! "01!
!5 #  
  # 
    
!  !    !    
      #01   
)
   -  !     ! 
   ! !
         
 "        #
   
        ! 
           
   ! ## # 
      !! 7%'-.8 1! !
     "01     
! 7,%$-.&$8        
    !    &
        ! 
  * !         !
 !  ! 
  "01          
 3!B!E33!
3            
"01
Table 2. Installed capacity of floating solar-PV panels worldwide
Country %, of floating solar-PV installations
worldwide
 ('$.
D %'/,
G )$%
EG $//
 %/,
 %$$
Source: [4]
Table 3. Criteria for selection of water dams for installation of floating
photovoltaics
Feature Criteria
+ ?
J 
+&$ C
J A  !!!
!

 

! 
 
+ J 
"
(
J
J
Source: [4]
5. ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF FLOATING
PHOTOVOLTAICS
E          
!
:   #01       !  
  !     !  

:     ! 5  
!
: J!#01 
 
: !
: "01
:  
: "01>! !# !#01
: "01   !    #   #

"!5 
:   "01   #01
! 
: "01! !5
:   >! >! !! 
!>!
: 1     !       
 "01
: ! !  
!
: "01  ! 
   5      
.
Table 4. Advantages and drawbacks of installing floating photovoltaics on
water bodies
Advantages Drawbacks
? ? 
01
J =5! !

J! "!>!
 
>!
,
J 1!

J  ! 
J>! "01   

0
 

 
Source: various authors
6. ESTIMATION OF ELECTRICITY GENERATION FROM FLOATING
PHOTOVOLTAICS INSTALLED IN WATER DAMS IN CRETE
" #   
 B      "01
!! 
 %$2-$2&$2
 ')( "01 
#   #01
,
Table 5. Estimation of electricity generation with floating photovoltaics
covering 10% of the water surface in the dams 1
Name of
water dam
Water
surface
(M2)
Nominal
power of
FPVs
(MWp)
Annual
electricity
generation
(MWh)
%, of annual
electricity
consumption in
Crete
0  %($$$$$ %( -&,(- $(,
3  %)$$$$$ %) --.), $(&
 --)$$$ --) &%(. $%
F  %$'$$$$ %$' %.(.' $.,
" 
%$$$$$$ %$ %.$.- $.)
 ''()$$$ ''() (,&$% -'(
1 Own estimations, Necessary surface for installing 1 MWp of FPVs=10,000 m2, Annual
electricity consumption in Crete (2018) =3,043 GWh [14], Annual electricity yield of solar-
PVs in Crete = 1,404.25 MWh/MWp [14]
Table 6. Estimation of electricity generation with floating photovoltaics
covering 20% of the water surface in the dams 1
Name of
water dam
Water
surface
(M2)
Nominal
power
of FPVs
(MWp)
Annual
electricity
generation
(MWh)
%, of annual
electricity
consumption in
Crete
/
0  %($$$$$ &. .((.. %')
3  %)$$$$$ &- ../&) %.(
 --)$$$ .'- )&.( $-$
F  %$'$$$$ -% -/.,/ $/)
" 
%$$$$$$ -$ -,$,' $/-
 ''()$$$ %%%'- %'))$- '%.
1 Own estimations, Necessary surface for installing 1 MWp of FPVs=10,000 m2, Annual
electricity consumption in Crete (2018) =3,043 GWh [14], Annual electricity yield of solar-
PVs in Crete = 1,404.25 MWh/MWp [14]
Table 7. Estimation of electricity generation with floating photovoltaics
covering 30% of the water surface in the dams 1
Name of
water dam
Water
surface
(M2)
Nominal
power
of FPVs
(MWp)
Annual
electricity
generation
(MWh)
%, of annual
electricity
consumption in
Crete
0  %($$$$$ '% (%)%( -&'
3  %)$$$$$ ., )(.$. --%
 --)$$$ )(, /'-% $&%
F  %$'$$$$ &%' ..-&. %.'
" 
%$$$$$$ &$ .-%-( %&,
 ''()$$$ %)(-, -&./$- ((-
1 Own estimations, Necessary surface for installing 1 MWp of FPVs=10,000 m2, Annual
electricity consumption in Crete (2018) =3,043 GWh [14], Annual electricity yield of solar-
PVs in Crete = 1,404.25 MWh/MWp [14]
Table 8. Nominal power and electricity generation of FPVs which can be
installed in water dams in Crete, with several coverage ratios, compared to
the nominal power and electricity generation of the existing terrestrial
solar-PVs in the island

!
%$2 -$2 &$2
A 
#01
-$%,9*+:%
/'' /'' /''
3!
#01
-$%,9+:%
%&' %&' %&'
A "01
9*+:
''() %%%'- %)(-,
A "01

#0192:
', %%) %('
%$
3!
"019+:
(,& %')) -&./
3!
"01!

0192:
', %%) %(.
1 Source: [14]
 ( ,        "01  
 $& !
        #01    
         ,2    
! -$%,
7. INSTALLATION OF FPVS IN THE PLANNED HYBRID ENERGY
SYSTEM IN THE ISLAND OF CRETE, GREECE
 !5
     !     !
    >!
!       0?  
3 !
 7%,8  5
    !  J  0?  
!  =       
  BE    3  B=A3 BAB=K   
    --( *+C   (.'2 
! !   -$%,  7%,8    
     -$%,  -$$& *+ 7&'8 " 
! 
0?  
 /
Table 9. Characteristics of the planned hybrid energy system in Crete,
Greece
Characteristic Value
0  ,/%*+
0! /&*+
0!   %.$*+
3!

--(+
1!  --' *&
* ! ! ''
!! %(G -
1!  %- *&
! $%-G -
%%
3!= 
0!
%)/%G+C -9&$:%',(
G+C -9$:
Source: [36,37]
        
!#
   5 #  
##
      "01 
0?  !!  
%$
Table 10. Electricity generation by FPVs installed in two water dams in the
planned PHS system in the island of Crete (Amari, Prefecture of Rethymno)
Surface
coverage
ratio 10%
Surface
coverage
ratio 20%
Surface
coverage ratio
30%
!
"01! 
9G -:
$%( $&. $'%
0"01!
 9*+:%
%( &. '%
3!
!
 9+:-
-&,( .((. (%)$
!
"01 9 -:
%-$$$ -.$$$ &)$$$
0"01
 9*+:
%- -. &)
3!

9+:
%), &&( '$'
!
9+:
-''. '%%% ())'

0?
 92:
&)., (&$% %$/'$
3!
"01
!
! 
-$%,9&$.&+:92:
$,& %)( -'%
Surface required by FPVs at 1 KWp = 10 m2, Annual electricity generation from FPV in
Crete at 1 KWp = 1,404.25 KWh [14], Annual electricity generation by the PHS system in
Crete= 70 GWh, [38]
%-
! "01 
 %$2     &).,2     !
   0?    $,&2   !
 ! -$%,  ! 
"01 &$2
%$/'2  !0?
-'%2!! -$%,
8. DISCUSSION
!!"01 # 
 !#
     "01 !   ! 
   !
 !       "01   
   !  !      
     ! 5  7'8!
          "01  
   01 ! !     
 !!
 7&8    !    
3!!  
$$))2  6  "01  
 -'(#((-2!! 
 6!%$2&$2!!
   "01    
  !# ! 01     
 !!  
!!
!     
 "!!!  
 !"01      
   !      
 
9. CONCLUSIONS
   
!  # 
      ''()$$$ -      
 $%
$&   ''() *+  %)(& *+   ! 
 "01(,&+-&./+!
       "01   -'(2 
((-2  !  !    -$%,  
! "01 
',2%(.2!01
"010?
%&
!
 !    0?  3 
"01 !
!!!"01
          !  
        ? 
"01  
 !# !01     !
!    5    >!  ! !
 !  "01
>!!!

COMPETING INTERESTS
3! 
REFERENCES
% = A = A 0 F "
     L3 
! 
D!B -$--M%#,
- "  01     ! 
?N -$-%M.,-#%$%
3CC#  C#C
!C"01O
& +!    5+F5
!M-$%/
3CC! %5C!CC
'(//.%'.$.$(.'',&%CC"##*5#=#
B!#! 
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3CC!C#C
!C-$--C$-C3#=##"##0#0#
0
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01 @
3         A 
B-$-%M-%.-&/#-.(
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-- @5513353A05A1K
!    !  !
  !   
+-$-$M%-%'&,
3CCC%$&&/$C%-$)%'&,
-& =#**A@"
   3! < B 0
-$%(M%&.)).#)(.
3%$%$%)C<-$%($/','
-. @@ @ = G!  *# * " "
3        
   3 = B
-$-%M%)/),(#)//
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-' "J+F<3D 0333 A"
01  !       
 ! ! D B
* -$--M-)$%%''/,
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-) K1 F3 ! " !  
 5  F!!  0  
!   B S   !! 
!-$-%M%(.9%:%#%$
3CCC%$%),$C< -%$$$$-
-( D!< F    ! =    
     0 !
%)
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-$-$M%'$$$%-$%)
%$%$,,C%(.-#)'/)C%'$$C%C$%-$%)
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-$%,M%)9&:%(''#%()-
3CCC%$%$$(C%&()-#$%,#-$,$#'
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3CCC%$%$%)C<-$%($&.,&
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0-$%'M-.9-:--/#-&/
3CCC%$%$$-C-).$
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