Title:	A Global Review of Hybrid Hydropower-Connected Floating PV Projects: Research, Status, Opportunities and Challenges
Author(s):	S. Merlet, M. Korpås, B. Thorud
Topic:	PV Applications and Integration
Subtopic:	PV on/in Buildings, Infrastructure, Landscape, Water and Nature
Event:	37th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition
Session:	6DO.15.1
ISBN:	3-936338-73-6
Price:	0,00 EUR
Document(s):	presentation

Abstract/Summary:

---

In 2018, solar PV broke the 100 GWp threshold of global annual installations as well as a cumulative operational capacity of over 500 GWp (it was estimated at 512 GWp by IEA PVPS). Solar PV has been, for several years now, the power generation technology with the largest capacity additions globally and, with costs expected to continue falling and stronger commitments from governments and private sector to reduce GHG emissions, solar PV will undoubtedly experience significant capacity growth in the years to come. However, constraints like grid integration of variable renewable energy and land scarcity are known potential obstacles to further deployment of the technology. In this context, Floating solar PV (FPV) is emerging as a relevant additional solution to conventional solar PV (on buildings and groundmounted). The FPV global annual capacity increased significantly in the last three years to reach a global cumulative installed capacity of about 1.7 GWp at end 2019, reflecting an astounding CAGR of 122% since 2015. While still in its infancy stage, FPV unlocks new opportunities. One of them is the installation of solar PV capacity on reservoirs for hybridization with hydropower plants. Indeed, hydropower global capacity additions have slowed down due to heavy environmental impacts and retrofitting flexible projects with solar PV presents many advantages.