Performance analysis of floating and ground-mounted photovoltaic systems: An experimental study

The rapid growth of photovoltaic technology has driven the need for innovative system configuration to enhance the energy generation. Floating photovoltaic systems (FPV) has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional ground mounted (GPV) installations. This study presents a comprehensive experimental seasonal analysis to comparing the performance of floating and ground mounted systems with a specific focus on tilt angle optimization to enhance the energy generation. Each system is arranged at five different tilt angle such as 25°, 30°, 35°, 40°, 45°. This work is conducting under real environment conditions, where both systems is subjected to identical environmental parameters such as solar irradiance, ambient temperature, module temperature, humidity and wind speed. The influence of water cooling in floating system is evaluating as a critical factor affecting temperature related efficiency. The findings revel that FPV modules exhibited consistently lower temperatures than GPV modules during the test, with a maximum temperature differential of 4.2 °C observed at a 25° tilt angle between the FPV and GPV systems. Specifically, at a 25° tilt angle, FPV modules achieved an average power of 4.44 W compared to 4.02 W for GPV, with module temperatures averaging 26.01 °C for FPV and 28.38 °C for GPV. The test results validated that FPV systems generated the most energy at a 25° tilt angle during the test period. The study underscores the importance of system specific tilt angle optimization to enhance the performance of PV installations. This work contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goal SDG 7 by promoting affordable, clean, and sustainable energy solutions. In this study, FPV is found to be a more financially viable and sustainable option compared to GPV. FPV offers a higher initial investment of ₹1,05,50,000, but demonstrates superior performance with an energy yield of 1812 kWh/kW, a better performance ratio of 0.86 compared to 0.81 for GPV, and a shorter payback period of 10.86 years compared to 11.64 years for GPV. These advantages make FPV a more attractive option for long-term energy generation and financial sustainability. SDG 7, established by the United Nations in September 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aims to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy, while significantly increasing renewable energy share and enhancing energy efficiency.