Water and sun perfectly paired: an energetic marriage whose effects can be seen (more than positive) in Piedmont, in Venaus, in the hydroelectric power plant with floating photovoltaic system – or floating, if you prefer – of the Enel Group. A company that has started tests for this technology in the Innovation Lab in Catania, aimed at analyzing the parameters of the float, the numbers linked to production (in Venaus, for example, it is 1 MW) and any environmental impact .
An ever-growing technology
First of all the context. In 2023, 440 GW of photovoltaic systems were installed worldwide, compared to 260 the previous year: this gives a measure of how well-established technology is continually growing. Floating photovoltaic, although it can be considered in its infancy and has relatively high costs (no economies of scale are possible for now), is very promising: both in terms of productivity prospects and for related industries and the territory. In the sector, a strong technological evolution is expected within a few years, especially linked to the structures of the floats, which depend on materials. Currently the most used – high density polyethylene – does not have prohibitive prices, but the production costs and application implications remain high. Enel, always at the forefront of innovations, has studied and tested different PVF configurations and with different types of material, evaluating their advantages also in terms of positioning on different sites. Let’s see in detail.
Advantages of floating: all the plus points
- FPV systems make it possible to occupy areas that would have no other intended use, therefore with an impact on the landscape close to zero.
- FPV systems are very compact, their construction and dismantling is quick. There are no fixed structures, mooring can be totally reversible, unlike the foundations necessary for some systems.
- Partial coverage of the basins reduces water evaporation. In arid climates it is a more significant advantage: over 80% of the evaporation of the covered surface is saved, which consequently also means saving more than 20,000 m3 per year per hectare (very useful if the basin is used for irrigation purposes). In collaboration with the University of Catania, Enel has developed a reduction calculation tool for hydrobasins. In Anapo, Sicily, a reduction of around 20/30% in evaporation was estimated, with annual savings of around 100 thousand m3 of water, which can be used for human and irrigation purposes.
- Greater producibility/cleanliness of the modules, with energy gain of up to 25%. The presence of water under the modules allows natural ventilation which reduces the temperature, allowing an increase in production of even more than 5%. The water, which is easily withdrawable, can be used for cleaning the modules and for further artificial cooling.
- FPV systems can also advantageously integrate with other RES technologies. The main advantages derive from the combination of solar with hydroelectric, because the natural storage possibilities allow us to offer accurate and predictable integrated electricity production on the market. The presence of an electrical connection allows you to save on investment costs.
- The model protects the environment and can have potential benefits such as limiting the problem of algae blooms, which is particularly serious in industrialized countries. Partial coverage of the basins can solve the problem. Another benefit can be fish farming: the basins favor the breeding of fish. In general, no negative environmental effects were found in the experiments carried out by Enel and in those of other utilities and important research centres.
Read all the articles of the «ENEL SPECIAL»
1) The high-design road boxes are arriving
2 Floating photovoltaic: six reasons to choose it and increase it
2) A breath of clean energy: the system implemented by the Magaldi Group in collaboration with Enel
4) Renewable energy communities, advantages and prospects of Enel’s zero-mile energy
