Researchers from Canada’s Western University have built and analyzed a foam-backed floating PV (FPV) system in Canada’s cold climate, using an air-bubbler system to prevent ice. Their experiment ran from August 2024 through June 2025, using measurements different from those simulated by major models.
“We found notable differences between measured module temperatures and standard PV temperature models during winter, highlighting unique thermal dynamics of flat, foam-backed FPV systems,” corresponding author Joshua M. Pearce told pv magazine. “To work in Canada, we developed and validated a transferable ice-melting model using an air-bubbler system, maintaining ice-free conditions with negligible energy consumption.”
Pearce also explained that the results revealed the novel system to be viable in Ontario’s freezing winters. “We found a pretty nice energy yield advantage, too. Foam-based FPV generated more energy annually compared to other PV models, emphasizing the importance of accurate temperature modeling for cold-climate systems,” he added. “The study also demonstrated FPV-based evaporation reduction for water conservation. But best of all is that the foam-based FPV was economic while solving the issue of FPV in cold climates.”
The pond on which the FPV system floated is an artificial pond measuring 1,475 m2. The system consisted of 40 monocrystalline, semi-flexible PV modules with a total capacity of 7 kW. It was partitioned into four independent PV arrays, each rated at 1.75 kW, and each connected to its own maximum power point tracker (MPPT). The modules were mounted horizontally, with a tilt angle of 0° and an azimuth of 180°.
Unlike conventional FPV systems that use plastic pontoons, the modules were directly bonded to polyethylene foam slabs, allowing them to float approximately 1 cm above the water surface. The system further included a three-phase inverter bank, a 10 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery storage system, and an anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer as the primary load. It was further coupled with an air-bubbler system after a series of experiments, in which ice formation with and without it was demonstrated.
Collecting global horizontal irradiance (GHI), ambient air temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, water temperature, PV module temperature, array voltage, array current, electrical output, and time-lapse imagery throughout the experiment, the authors then compared the measured module temperatures against those predicted by several leading PV temperature models. Namely, the system was benchmarked against the NOCT/SAM model, the Faiman model, the FPV-specific Faiman variant, the Kamuyu et al. model, and the Hayibo et al. model.
“A regression model developed in this study indicated that the foam-based FPV system generated 7.7 MWh/year, representing up to 2.7% more energy than other PV,” the scientists emphasized. “The FPV array storm water pond coverage scaled linearly with evaporation reduction, reaching a maximum of 927 m3/year if 50% of the pond is covered, demonstrating the potential for foam-based FPV to save water and support agricultural water needs.”
Moreover, the research team found that the deployed air bubbler system successfully maintained ice-free open water throughout the winter season. It did so with negligible additional energy consumption, ranging from 0.02% (1.9 kWh) to 14.5% (893 kWh) of the total annual yield. Finally, the system achieved a positive net present value of about CAD 57,000 CAD ($41,000) under a high electricity price scenario of CAD 0.55/kWh for off-grid systems, yielding a discounted payback period of 4.2 years.
“These advances provide a solid foundation for future research at larger scales and across diverse water bodies, thereby positioning FPV as a viable technology for sustainable energy expansion not only in warm climates but also in cold regions,” said Pearce.
The system was presented in “Design and thermal-energy performance analysis of foam-based floating photovoltaic systems in a cold climate: experimental results from a 7 kW floatovoltaics in Canada,” published in Applied Energy.
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