Assessment of the Potential of Installing Floating Photovoltaic Systems in Existing Water Reservoirs in Greece

Abstract

Floating photovoltaics consists of a new and fast-growing technology worldwide. Installations of these novel green energy systems have not been developed so far in Greece. The aim of the current work is to investigate the potential of installing floating photovoltaic systems in Greek water bodies. The existing water reservoirs in Greece have been identified while their water surface that allows the installation of solar panels, the nominal power of the floating photovoltaics and the generated solar electricity have been estimated. The nominal power of floating photovoltaics which can be installed in the existing 128 water reservoirs in Greece covering 10% to 30% of their surface varies between 4.77 GWp to 14.31 GWp while the annual generated electricity at 6,435.2 GWh to 19,305.6 GWh corresponding at 12.40% to 37.20% of the total annual electricity consumption in the country. The annual water evaporation savings, due to installation of floating photovoltaics, have been calculated at 71.55 mil. M3 to 214.65 mil. M3 while the increased annual electricity gain at 321.76 GWh to 1,930.56 GWh. The results indicate that significant amounts of electricity can be generated with floating photovoltaics installed in water reservoirs in Greece. They could be useful to policy makers who are developing policies to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 in Greece and to energy companies who are willing to invest in these novel green energy technologies.