Floating solar photovoltaic systems: An overview and their feasibility at Kota in Rajasthan

Abstract

Floating solar power plant is an innovative approach of using photovoltaic modules on water infrastructures to conserve the land along with increase in efficiency of the module. Additionally, the water is also conserved due to reduction in evaporation of water from the water body. The plant can be installed on a pond, lake, reservoir, or on any other water body. This paper focuses on the floating PV technology, describing the types of floating PV plant along with studies carried out on some floating solar plants. India, with huge energy demand and scarcity of waste land for solar photovoltaic plant in cities, can harness solar energy through floating PV plant technology for sustainable energy production. In this paper, some of the floating PV plants installed in India are reviewed. Feasibility of installing 1 MW floating PV plant each at Kota barrage and Kishore Sagar lake in Kota, Rajasthan are also presented. Energy that could be produced by the two plants along with amount of water saved from evaporation and reduction in CO2 emissions are also calculated in this paper. 1 MW floating plant at Kota barrage could produce 18,38,519 kWh energy per year and could save 37 million litres of water and can reduce about 1,714 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. 1 MW floating plant at Kishore Sagar lake could produce 18,58,959 kWh electrical energy per year and could save 37 million litres of water and can reduce about 1,733 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.