Assessment of floating solar photovoltaic potential and water conservation in Morocco: Case studies of four hydroelectric dams

Abstract

This paper investigates the integration of floating photovoltaic systems (FPVS) into four hydroelectric dams located in Morocco's Sebou basin. The research evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of installing solar panels on reservoir surfaces, considering three coverage scenarios: 5 %, 10 %, and 15 % of the total reservoir area. Using the System Advisor Model, the results show that with only 5 % FPVS coverage, nearly one million people (87 % of the population of Fes city) could be supplied with electricity. Additionally, implementing floating photovoltaic systems with 10 % coverage could increase annual power generation by 185 %, equivalent to an additional 1270 GWh per year. Furthermore, the use of floating photovoltaic systems is expected to significantly reduce water evaporation, saving up to 11.93 million cubic meters of water annually with 15 % coverage. From an economic perspective, the levelized cost of electricity is estimated at approximately $0.07/kWh across all scenarios. The net present value is positive for all scenarios, indicating that financial returns outweigh installation costs, while the internal rate of return exceeds 10 % in each case. This study demonstrates that deploying floating photovoltaic systems represents a sustainable approach to enhancing clean energy production and conserving water resources.