IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v254y2025ics0960148125014168.html

Contribution of floating photovoltaic systems in hydropower plants for the expansion of Brazilian electricity sector

Author

Listed:
  • Raimundo, Danielle Rodrigues
  • Nakao Cavaliero, Carla Kazue
  • Pereira da Cunha, Marcelo

Abstract

The Brazilian electricity matrix is mainly composed of hydropower plants, which allow the storage of energy as water in reservoirs. However, the water crises experienced in recent years bring uncertainties regarding the reliability of this kind of energy storage. The present work proposes a study on the use of photovoltaic generation in floating panels in reservoirs of hydropower plants. Floating photovoltaic systems have been the subject of several studies, but there is still a lack of research regarding their technical feasibility, operational challenges, and environmental impacts. In Brazil, it is also necessary to understand the insertion of floating photovoltaic systems in the National Interconnected System, the additional installed capacity, and the potential displacement of natural gas thermal generation. Data were collected from reliable references, such as the National Electric System Operator (ONS). The additional generation was estimated using PVSyst® software and considered specific input parameters from each hydropower plant analyzed. As a result, floating photovoltaic systems can be relevant in the Brazilian electricity matrix and, considering the plants analyzed, would be able to generate 7.7 TWh/year, displacing 15 % of the natural gas power generation forecasted for 2031.

Suggested Citation

  • Raimundo, Danielle Rodrigues & Nakao Cavaliero, Carla Kazue & Pereira da Cunha, Marcelo, 2025. "Contribution of floating photovoltaic systems in hydropower plants for the expansion of Brazilian electricity sector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:254:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125014168
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123754
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125014168
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2025.123754?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sahu, Alok & Yadav, Neha & Sudhakar, K., 2016. "Floating photovoltaic power plant: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 815-824.
    2. Almeida Prado, Fernando & Athayde, Simone & Mossa, Joann & Bohlman, Stephanie & Leite, Flavia & Oliver-Smith, Anthony, 2016. "How much is enough? An integrated examination of energy security, economic growth and climate change related to hydropower expansion in Brazil," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1132-1136.
    3. Lee, Nathan & Grunwald, Ursula & Rosenlieb, Evan & Mirletz, Heather & Aznar, Alexandra & Spencer, Robert & Cox, Sadie, 2020. "Hybrid floating solar photovoltaics-hydropower systems: Benefits and global assessment of technical potential," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1415-1427.
    4. Kulat, Muhammed Imran & Tosun, Kursad & Karaveli, Abdullah Bugrahan & Yucel, Ismail & Akinoglu, Bulent Gultekin, 2023. "A sound potential against energy dependency and climate change challenges: Floating photovoltaics on water reservoirs of Turkey," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 694-709.
    5. Rauf, Huzaifa & Gull, Muhammad Shuzub & Arshad, Naveed, 2020. "Complementing hydroelectric power with floating solar PV for daytime peak electricity demand," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1227-1242.
    6. Exley, G. & Hernandez, R.R. & Page, T. & Chipps, M. & Gambro, S. & Hersey, M. & Lake, R. & Zoannou, K.-S. & Armstrong, A., 2021. "Scientific and stakeholder evidence-based assessment: Ecosystem response to floating solar photovoltaics and implications for sustainability," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    7. Stiubiener, Uri & Carneiro da Silva, Thadeu & Trigoso, Federico Bernardino Morante & Benedito, Ricardo da Silva & Teixeira, Julio Carlos, 2020. "PV power generation on hydro dam’s reservoirs in Brazil: A way to improve operational flexibility," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 765-776.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Vidović, V. & Krajačić, G. & Matak, N. & Stunjek, G. & Mimica, M., 2023. "Review of the potentials for implementation of floating solar panels on lakes and water reservoirs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    2. Kowsar, Abu & Hassan, Mahedi & Rana, Md Tasnim & Haque, Nawshad & Faruque, Md Hasan & Ahsan, Saifuddin & Alam, Firoz, 2023. "Optimization and techno-economic assessment of 50 MW floating solar power plant on Hakaluki marsh land in Bangladesh," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    3. Ma, Chao & Liu, Zhao, 2022. "Water-surface photovoltaics: Performance, utilization, and interactions with water eco-environment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    4. Hayibo, Koami Soulemane & Jamil, Uzair & Pearce, Joshua M., 2025. "Additional value of non-electricity generating services (co-benefits) provided by non-conventional dual use solar photovoltaic systems: A PRISMA review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    5. Haspolat, Emre & Cicek, Doga Derman & Gokmener, Serkan & Melek, Abiddin Berhan & Deveci, Muhammet & Oguz, Elif, 2024. "Site selection of floating photovoltaic systems on hydropower reservoirs using fuzzy sine trigonometric decision-making model: Turkey as a case study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    6. Lv, Song & Lu, Mengying & Liu, Wenzhuo & Li, Xianglin & Lv, Wenhao & Liu, Zhe & Dong, Xuanchen & Lu, Tonghui & Yang, Bowen, 2025. "Recent advances in longitudinal spatial area marine photovoltaics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    7. C.J., Ramanan & Lim, King Hann & Kurnia, Jundika Candra & Roy, Sukanta & Bora, Bhaskor Jyoti & Medhi, Bhaskar Jyoti, 2024. "Towards sustainable power generation: Recent advancements in floating photovoltaic technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    8. Nobre, Regina & Boulêtreau, Stéphanie & Colas, Fanny & Azemar, Frederic & Tudesque, Loïc & Parthuisot, Nathalie & Favriou, Pierre & Cucherousset, Julien, 2023. "Potential ecological impacts of floating photovoltaics on lake biodiversity and ecosystem functioning," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    9. Moraes, Camile A. & Valadão, Giovana F. & Renato, Natalia S. & Botelho, Daniel F. & Oliveira, Augusto C. L. de & Aleman, Catariny C. & Cunha, Fernando F., 2022. "Floating photovoltaic plants as an electricity supply option in the Tocantins-Araguaia basin," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 264-277.
    10. Wei, Yujia & Khojasteh, Danial & Windt, Christian & Huang, Luofeng, 2025. "An interdisciplinary literature review of floating solar power plants," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    11. Evgeny Solomin & Evgeny Sirotkin & Erdem Cuce & Shanmuga Priya Selvanathan & Sudhakar Kumarasamy, 2021. "Hybrid Floating Solar Plant Designs: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-25, May.
    12. Tercan, Emre & Dereli, Mehmet Ali & Saracoglu, Burak Omer, 2022. "Location alternatives generation and elimination of floatovoltaics with virtual power plant designs," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 1150-1163.
    13. Vivar, M. & H, Sharon & Fuentes, M., 2024. "Photovoltaic system adoption in water related technologies – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).
    14. Croce, Leandro Firme & Tiago Filho, Geraldo Lúcio & Santos, Ivan Felipe Silva dos & Barros, Regina Mambeli, 2025. "Attractivity analysis of hybrid energy generation based on current energy market scenarios in Brazil," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 318(C).
    15. Alexander E. Cagle & Alona Armstrong & Giles Exley & Steven M. Grodsky & Jordan Macknick & John Sherwin & Rebecca R. Hernandez, 2020. "The Land Sparing, Water Surface Use Efficiency, and Water Surface Transformation of Floating Photovoltaic Solar Energy Installations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-22, October.
    16. Laura Essak & Aritra Ghosh, 2022. "Floating Photovoltaics: A Review," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-18, August.
    17. Tanu Rizvi & Satya Prakash Dubey & Nagendra Tripathi & Gautam Srivastava & Satya Prakash Makhija & Md. Khaja Mohiddin, 2023. "FSPV-Grid System for an Industrial Subsection with PV Price Sensitivity Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    18. Xia, Zilong & Li, Yingjie & Guo, Shanchuan & Chen, Ruishan & Zhang, Wei & Zhang, Peng & Du, Peijun, 2023. "Mapping global water-surface photovoltaics with satellite images," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    19. Zhou, Yanlai & Chang, Fi-John & Chang, Li-Chiu & Lee, Wei-De & Huang, Angela & Xu, Chong-Yu & Guo, Shenglian, 2020. "An advanced complementary scheme of floating photovoltaic and hydropower generation flourishing water-food-energy nexus synergies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    20. Ramzan, Uzma & Rahman, Asadur & Iqbal, Sheikh Javed, 2025. "Energy studies and economics of floating solar PV (FSPV) system in the temperate region: A case study of DAL Lake, Kashmir, India," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:254:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125014168. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.