Assessment of salt-induced performance decline in floating photovoltaics in marine environments: Experimental analysis of electrical degradation, design and techno-economic implications

As cleaner energy demand is growing, addressing factors which obstruct photovoltaic energy production is critical, particularly in coastal environments where seawater-induced salt deposition reduces system performance. This study evaluates seawater-induced salt deposition on floating photovoltaic panels through controlled experiments, demonstrating significant reductions in electrical performance and efficiency under simulated marine conditions. Following exposure to 11 wave cycles, 0.6502 g of salt was deposited on the panel surface, and consequently the extracted performance parameters show that the fill factor decreased from 71.2 % to 63.49 %, while peak power dropped from 8.2 W to 6.8 W, and the current at maximum-power declined from 0.436 A to 0.376 A, with minimal impact on voltage, highlighting the impact of salt accumulation on energy conversion. Economic analysis (for 1-MW proposed plant) shows that salt-induced soiling materially undermines project economics: internal rate of return falls from 28.77 % to 22.21 % and net present value drops by $239,177 because lower module output (fill-factor and power loss) reduces revenue while cleaning and replacement raise lifecycle costs. As a result, the levelized cost of electricity increases from $0.02309/kWh to $0.03303/kWh, and the simple payback extends from 3.44 to 4.59 years; clearly calling for targeted mitigation and contingency budgeting in salt-prone marine environments.