Scenarios for use of floating photovoltaic plants in Brazilian reservoirs

The conversion efficiency of a crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) module increases as its temperature decreases. Considering this characteristic of the PV technology, in this study the authors analyse the use of cooled floating PV modules in a fraction of the area occupied by three reservoirs – Castanhão, Orós and Banabuiú – in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Comparing with conventional ground-mounted PV modules, an average conversion efficiency increase of 12.5% was measured for floating PV modules under the local weather conditions. In a second phase, measurements are used as input data in the PVSYST software in conjunction with a spreadsheet for the construction of electricity production scenarios. According to these scenarios, the potential PV production in the mentioned reservoirs would supply 7.4 and 18.8% of the electricity demand of Brazil's Ceará state (8.84 million inhabitants) and its largest city Fortaleza (2.6 million inhabitants), respectively.