Unlocking the floating photovoltaic potential of Türkiye's hydroelectric power plants

Ateş A. M.

Renewable Energy, vol.199, pp.1495-1509, 2022 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 199
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.09.096
  • Journal Name: Renewable Energy
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Environment Index, Geobase, Greenfile, Index Islamicus, INSPEC, Pollution Abstracts, Public Affairs Index, Veterinary Science Database, DIALNET, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.1495-1509
  • Keywords: Floating photovoltaic, Remote sensing, Geographical information system, Google earth engine, Technical potential, Water recovery from evaporation
  • Manisa Celal Bayar University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The massive surface of the water accumulated in the basins of hydroelectric power plants (HEPPs) can be considered an excellent opportunity for floating photovoltaics (FPV). Türkiye is among the countries that can utilize this potential with its large HEPPs. In this study, the surface areas of 76 HEPPs in Türkiye were determined using the Random Forest algorithm over Google Earth Engine, and the technical potential of FPV that could be installed in these areas was evaluated over five scenarios. In addition, the water recovery that can be obtained with the FPV installation has been calculated. When the entire surfaces of the dams are used, the FPV technical potential and the amount of water recovered are 380,439.85 MW and 25.40 km3/year, respectively. Even when only 10% of the surfaces of the dams are used, the FPV technical potential meets 39.67% of Türkiye's total installed power capacity. Moreover, the water recovered from evaporation meets 7.3% of the surface water used for agricultural irrigation. In addition, it has been calculated that the FPV electricity generation potential of HEPPs producing 674,280.17 GWh of electricity in 2020 is 13.82 times higher than the hydroelectric potential. The results demonstrated how great the FPV solar power plant potential that the country HEPPs carries on their idle water surfaces.