Floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) installations at varying heights: evaporation reduction estimation for major dams of the tropical region of Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Any tropical region is well known for its high levels of sunshine and is suitable for PV installations with the associated disadvantage of high evaporation rates. FSPV is an alternate approach for solar PV installations in such regions to harness maximum solar energy with the additional advantage of reducing evaporation from water bodies. The study on estimating the reduction in evaporation due to FSPV installations and associated panel height above the water surface is limited. This study aims to quantify the reduction in evaporation resulting from the deployment of floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) systems above water surfaces. It also determines the panel height above water bodies to maximize evaporation reduction. These findings are then extended to evaluate the impact of FSPV installations on reducing evaporation over the major dams in the tropical region of Uttar Pradesh, India. The experimental results highlighted that the maximum evaporation reduction occurred from the water surface covered with a panel at a height of 300 mm above the water with an evaporation reduction of 23.44 %. The extrapolation of the study for 28 major dams of Uttar Pradesh, reveals an annual water saving of 92.56 million cubic meters (MCM) with FSPV coverage of 25%. Based on estimations, a 1 MWp FSPV installation considerable amount of water annually can fetch water for 67 individuals in a tropical region, assuming 100 lpcd. These research outcomes would provide valuable insights into FSPV technology and its potential to mitigate water evaporation, with implications for regional and national water and energy resource management policies.