EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1
Site identification 1
Energy yield analysis 3
Engineering design 3
Financial and legal considerations 3 Environmental and social considerations Procurement and construction 4
Testing and commissioning Operations and maintenance Conclusions and next steps
- 1 INTRODUCTION 11
- 1.1 Why is this handbook needed? 11
- 1.2 Market trends for floating solar 11
- 1.3 Key phases of a floating solar project
- 2 SITE IDENTIFICATION 17
2.1 Introduction 17
- 2.2 Solar irradiance and climate conditions 18
- 2.3 Bathymetry and water body characteristics 19
- 2.4 Soil investigations and water analysis 21
- 2.5 Shading, soiling, and environmental considerations 22
- 2.6 Accessibility, grid infrastructure, and power availability 22
- 2.7 Other site conditions 23
- 2.8 Summary for selecting a water body 23
3 ENERGY YIELD ANALYSIS 27
- 3.1 Introduction 27
- 3.2 Solar resource and irradiance in the plane of solar modules 27
- 3.3 Shading losses 28
- 3.4 Soiling 29
- 3.5 Temperature-dependent losses 29
- 3.6 Water surface albedo 30
- 3.7 Mismatch losses 30
- 3.8 Cabling losses 32
- 3.9 Efficiency losses of the inverter 32
- 3.10 Long-term degradation rates 32
CONTENTS • iii
iv •
FLOATING SOLAR HANDBOOK FOR PRACTITIONERS
- 4 ENGINEERING DESIGN 35
- 4.1 Introduction 35
- 4.2 Floating structures and platforms 35
- 4.3 Anchoring and mooring systems 39
- 4.4 PV modules 45
- 4.5 Cable management on water 49
- 4.6 Electrical safety 49
- 4.7 Checklists for plant design 53
- 5 FINANCIAL AND LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS 57
- 5.1 Overview 57
- 5.2 Risk analysis 57
- 5.3 Economic and financial analysis 61
- 5.4 Licenses, permits, and authorizations 62
- 5.5 Country case studies 64
- 5.6 Conclusion 68
- 6 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS 73
- 6.1 Overview, scope, and methodology 73
- 6.2 Managing effects specific to floating solar photovoltaic systems 74
- 6.3 Permitting, mitigation measures, performance indicators, and monitoring 86
- 7 PROCUREMENT AND CONSTRUCTION 93 7.1 Overview 93
- 7.2 Managing procurement activities 93
- 7.3 Managing construction activities 95
- 7.4 Checklist for procurement and construction 102
- 8 FIELD TESTING AND COMMISSIONING 105
- 8.1 Overview 105
- 8.2 Solar PV modules and inverters 105
- 8.3 Floats and anchoring 105
- 8.4 Safety labelling 106
- 8.5 Surge/lightning protection 106
- 8.6 DC electrical system 107
- 8.7 AC electrical system 108
- 8.8 Acceptance tests 109
- 9 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE 113
- 9.1 Overview 113
- 9.2 O&M approach and activities 113
- 9.3 Warranties and performance guarantees 129
- 9.4 Operations and maintenance checklist 131
ANNEXES 133
- Floating PV module failure modes and testing recommendations 133
- Costs of floating solar 139
- Nonexhaustive list of FPV system suppliers as of December 2018 143