Floating Solar Photovoltaic Energy for a Port: A Novel Application

Abstract

The application of floating photovoltaic (FPV) solar energy to supply energy needs of a port is assessed for the first time through a case study—the Port of Avilés (Northern Spain). Three different models of solar photovoltaics (PVs) panels, as well as three different tilt angles, were considered. FPV systems have gained great prominence in recent years, since they emerged as a solution to the problem of land scarcity that many countries are beginning to experience, resulting in high investment costs that jeopardize the economic viability of their solar projects based on traditional land-based PVs (LPVs) systems. Originally, FPV technology was mostly applied in freshwater bodies such as reservoirs, but with 70% of the Earth’s surface covered by oceans, the transition towards its application in marine environments seems to be natural. This article presents a novel approach to FPV systems, which consists of their application in ports, with a view to fostering the transition of these infrastructures towards a sustainable development model, reducing their energy dependence and carbon footprint. The results obtained in this work indicate that approximately 71% of the electricity consumption of the Port Authority of Avilés, which was 1559.2 MWh in 2023, could be covered thanks to the deployment of an FPV system in an idle and sheltered area of the Avilés estuary. Likewise, this decrease in electricity consumption would allow to approximately save 287.6 tons CO₂ eq/year, thus, contributing to a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of the Port Authority.