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Assessment of power losses and structural response of offshore floating solar platform

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  • Alcañiz, Alba
  • Agarwal, Shagun
  • Tiwald, Philipp
  • Isabella, Olindo
  • Ziar, Hesan
  • Colomés, Oriol

Abstract

As climate change becomes more critical and renewable energy sources expand, land-based photovoltaic (PV) systems face limitations due to competition with agriculture and housing. The sea offers a promising location for offshore floating PV (OFPV) systems. Understanding fluid–structure interactions is crucial for these systems. This work explores how different parameters affect the structural load on the floating platform and related electrical power losses. We develop a multi-physics framework integrating the mechanical model of a large floating structure with the optoelectrical modeling of PV modules. This framework analyzes a hypothetical OFPV platform design with various floater configurations, from a single large floater to multiple small floaters connected with free hinges. The results reveal a trade-off in the number of floaters. Power mismatch loss is lower for platforms with fewer, longer floaters. However, structural loads vary, with high stresses in longer floaters due to the elastic response. Young’s modulus impacts longer floaters where the elastic response dominates, while cross-section fill ratio affects shorter floaters, where the rigid-body response prevails. The floater-beam thickness has the most significant impact across various floater lengths.

Suggested Citation

  • Alcañiz, Alba & Agarwal, Shagun & Tiwald, Philipp & Isabella, Olindo & Ziar, Hesan & Colomés, Oriol, 2025. "Assessment of power losses and structural response of offshore floating solar platform," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:335:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225032980
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.137656
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Claus, R. & López, M., 2022. "Key issues in the design of floating photovoltaic structures for the marine environment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    2. Boland, John & Huang, Jing & Ridley, Barbara, 2013. "Decomposing global solar radiation into its direct and diffuse components," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 749-756.
    3. Borislav Stankov & Angel Terziev & Momchil Vassilev & Martin Ivanov, 2024. "Influence of Wind and Rainfall on the Performance of a Photovoltaic Module in a Dusty Environment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-29, July.
    4. Arnas Majumder & Roberto Innamorati & Andrea Frattolillo & Amit Kumar & Gianluca Gatto, 2021. "Performance Analysis of a Floating Photovoltaic System and Estimation of the Evaporation Losses Reduction," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-17, December.
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