Water Conservation Potential of Self-Funded Foam-Based Flexible Surface-Mounted Floatovoltaics
A potential solution to the coupled water–energy–food challenges in land use is the concept of floating photovoltaics or floatovoltaics (FPV). In this study, a new approach to FPV is investigated using a flexible crystalline silicon-based photovoltaic (PV) module backed with foam, which is less expe...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/23/6285 |
| _version_ | 1827701199196913664 |
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| author | Koami Soulemane Hayibo Pierce Mayville Ravneet Kaur Kailey Joshua M. Pearce |
| author_facet | Koami Soulemane Hayibo Pierce Mayville Ravneet Kaur Kailey Joshua M. Pearce |
| author_sort | Koami Soulemane Hayibo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A potential solution to the coupled water–energy–food challenges in land use is the concept of floating photovoltaics or floatovoltaics (FPV). In this study, a new approach to FPV is investigated using a flexible crystalline silicon-based photovoltaic (PV) module backed with foam, which is less expensive than conventional pontoon-based FPV. This novel form of FPV is tested experimentally for operating temperature and performance and is analyzed for water-savings using an evaporation calculation adapted from the Penman–Monteith model. The results show that the foam-backed FPV had a lower operating temperature than conventional pontoon-based FPV, and thus a 3.5% higher energy output per unit power. Therefore, foam-based FPV provides a potentially profitable means of reducing water evaporation in the world’s at-risk bodies of fresh water. The case study of Lake Mead found that if 10% of the lake was covered with foam-backed FPV, there would be enough water conserved and electricity generated to service Las Vegas and Reno combined. At 50% coverage, the foam-backed FPV would provide over 127 TWh of clean solar electricity and 633.22 million m<sup>3</sup> of water savings, which would provide enough electricity to retire 11% of the polluting coal-fired plants in the U.S. and provide water for over five million Americans, annually. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:28:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-965dbfb9299249a88eb5c6fb1df67418 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:28:19Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-965dbfb9299249a88eb5c6fb1df674182023-11-20T22:46:56ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-11-011323628510.3390/en13236285Water Conservation Potential of Self-Funded Foam-Based Flexible Surface-Mounted FloatovoltaicsKoami Soulemane Hayibo0Pierce Mayville1Ravneet Kaur Kailey2Joshua M. Pearce3Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USADepartment of Material Science & Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USADepartment of Material Science & Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USADepartment of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USAA potential solution to the coupled water–energy–food challenges in land use is the concept of floating photovoltaics or floatovoltaics (FPV). In this study, a new approach to FPV is investigated using a flexible crystalline silicon-based photovoltaic (PV) module backed with foam, which is less expensive than conventional pontoon-based FPV. This novel form of FPV is tested experimentally for operating temperature and performance and is analyzed for water-savings using an evaporation calculation adapted from the Penman–Monteith model. The results show that the foam-backed FPV had a lower operating temperature than conventional pontoon-based FPV, and thus a 3.5% higher energy output per unit power. Therefore, foam-based FPV provides a potentially profitable means of reducing water evaporation in the world’s at-risk bodies of fresh water. The case study of Lake Mead found that if 10% of the lake was covered with foam-backed FPV, there would be enough water conserved and electricity generated to service Las Vegas and Reno combined. At 50% coverage, the foam-backed FPV would provide over 127 TWh of clean solar electricity and 633.22 million m<sup>3</sup> of water savings, which would provide enough electricity to retire 11% of the polluting coal-fired plants in the U.S. and provide water for over five million Americans, annually.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/23/6285waterfloatovoltaicphotovoltaicenergy water nexusdual usewater conservation |
| spellingShingle | Koami Soulemane Hayibo Pierce Mayville Ravneet Kaur Kailey Joshua M. Pearce Water Conservation Potential of Self-Funded Foam-Based Flexible Surface-Mounted Floatovoltaics Energies water floatovoltaic photovoltaic energy water nexus dual use water conservation |
| title | Water Conservation Potential of Self-Funded Foam-Based Flexible Surface-Mounted Floatovoltaics |
| title_full | Water Conservation Potential of Self-Funded Foam-Based Flexible Surface-Mounted Floatovoltaics |
| title_fullStr | Water Conservation Potential of Self-Funded Foam-Based Flexible Surface-Mounted Floatovoltaics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water Conservation Potential of Self-Funded Foam-Based Flexible Surface-Mounted Floatovoltaics |
| title_short | Water Conservation Potential of Self-Funded Foam-Based Flexible Surface-Mounted Floatovoltaics |
| title_sort | water conservation potential of self funded foam based flexible surface mounted floatovoltaics |
| topic | water floatovoltaic photovoltaic energy water nexus dual use water conservation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/23/6285 |
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