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Techno-Economic Feasibility of the Use of Floating Solar PV Systems in Oil Platforms

Author

Listed:
  • Chellapillai Veliathur Chinnasamy Srinivasan

    (School of Engineering & Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Dubai P.O. Box 38103, United Arab Emirates)

  • Prashant Kumar Soori

    (School of Engineering & Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Dubai P.O. Box 38103, United Arab Emirates)

  • Fadi A. Ghaith

    (School of Engineering & Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Dubai P.O. Box 38103, United Arab Emirates)

Abstract

Offshore facilities have high energy demands commonly accomplished with local combustion-based power generators. With the increased commercialization of the marine renewable energy sector, there is still a need for research on floating photovoltaic installations on their performance and economic perspective. This paper investigates the techno-commercial feasibility of installing a battery-integrated floating solar photovoltaic (FPV) system for an offshore oil platform facility in Abu Dhabi. The performance analysis of two floating PV design schemes has been evaluated using the PVsyst design tool. The proposed system’s annual solar energy availability from the PVsyst 7.2.21 output was validated with MATLAB Simulink R2022b with a deviation of 1.85%. The optimized solution achieved the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of 261 USD/MWh with a Discounted Payback Period of 9.5 years. Also, the designed system could reduce carbon emissions by 731 tons per year. Furthermore, it was recognized that the contribution of the marine sector to the construction of floating platforms influences the success of floating PV systems. Independently authorized floating PV system designs would guarantee insurability from the viewpoints of investors and end users.

Suggested Citation

  • Chellapillai Veliathur Chinnasamy Srinivasan & Prashant Kumar Soori & Fadi A. Ghaith, 2024. "Techno-Economic Feasibility of the Use of Floating Solar PV Systems in Oil Platforms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:3:p:1039-:d:1326446
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bahaj, AbuBakr S. & Mahdy, Mostafa & Alghamdi, Abdulsalam S. & Richards, David J., 2020. "New approach to determine the Importance Index for developing offshore wind energy potential sites: Supported by UK and Arabian Peninsula case studies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 441-457.
    2. Trapani, Kim & Millar, Dean L. & Smith, Helen C.M., 2013. "Novel offshore application of photovoltaics in comparison to conventional marine renewable energy technologies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 879-888.
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    1. Filgueira-Vizoso, Almudena & Cordal-Iglesias, David & Fernández-Blanco, Carla & Fernández-Mira, Daniel & García-Diez, Ana Isabel & Castro-Santos, Laura, 2025. "Economic feasibility of floating offshore solar farms. The case of study of the Levantine-Balearic region of Spain," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    2. Makhija, Amandeep Singh & Tiwari, Vivek & Bohra, Shabbir S., 2025. "Evaluating performance-impacting parameters for water-mounted solar PV systems using response surface methodology," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    3. 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).
    4. Bru, Jakob & Seland, Tom Stian & Dai, Jian & Jiang, Zhiyu, 2025. "Life cycle cost analysis of an offshore floating photovoltaic concept in the North Sea," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    5. 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).

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