Integration of PV floating with hydroelectric power plants

Abstract

The integration of floating a PV plant (FPV) with a Hydroelectric Power plant (HPP) is studied and it is shown that several advantages come from this hybridization. The FPV power potential is analysed for the first 20 largest HPPs in the world and it is shown that when covering 10% of the HPP basin surfaces the HPP energy production is increased by 65%. The experience of China Longyangxa basin and of its connected PV power plant is examined together with the suggestion to install a FPV whose rated power is equal to HPP rated power. This hypothesis is applied to an analysis of the geographic potential worldwide and it is shown that covering 2.4% of the existing HPP basin surfaces the energy produced by HPP will be increased by 35.9%. The advantages of the coupling of the two power production technologies are discussed.

Keywords

• Electrical engineering
• Energy
• Photovoltaic
• Floating systems
• Hydroelectric power plant