The investigation of energy and economy for floating solar PV system on saline water

Floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) is an emerging type of solar energy that aims to help the environment by supplying green and clean energy. Since the technology is new and in its initial stage of development, evaluating the long-term performance, effective control, and feasibility studies of FSPV facilities are necessary for optimization of output and accuracy. The effective analysis and calculation of FSPV panel performances are crucial in determining actual performance, long-term operation, feasibility, and carbon-saving capacity of FSPV systems. This paper presents an analysis and comparison of floating solar power plant installed in saline water under salty humid weather with respect to FSPV plant installed on general lake water and investigates the output for its lifecycle and efficiency. The findings of this research can be useful for policymakers, investors, and engineers involved in the planning and implementation of FSPV projects. A 10 MW capacity floating solar plant is simulated on the brackish water of Chilika Lake covering three districts of Odisha state of India. Factors like wind speed, albedo, temperature, and soiling is considered for better accuracy. The proposed model is simulated in the system advisor model. The payback period and energy outcomes for various soiling conditions along with varied degradations are analyzed, and it is found that the total loss in energy outcome is 4.075 percent annually with a 5.8% increment in the payback time of the installed solar power plant.