Abstract (ed: 6 fold increase in performance)
Pumped hydroelectric storage plants (PHS) with integrated floating photovoltaic power plants (FPV) represent a promising solution to the challenges of the energy transition. The combination of these two technologies offers a compelling synergy, with the potential to optimize the utilization of space, reduce water loss due to evaporation, and enhance the efficiency of PV modules through natural water cooling.
This paper examines the potential for integrating FPV with existing PHS. The objective is to assess the possible techno-economic benefits of hybridization of the two systems with respect to standalone PHS. An optimization problem has been developed, formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model, in which the FPV panels are directly connected to both the electrical grid and the pumps, enabling either the sale of electricity or the powering of the pumps. The model highlights important relations between the two technologies, providing a specific correlation between water evaporation and variable purchase and selling electricity prices.
The developed model has been applied to three existing PHS systems in Italy, which present different integrated potential parameters (IPP). This parameter, introduced in this work, is used to assess the potential of PHS-FPV integration. For each plant four cases were considered for investigation, distinguished by different integration levels. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to assess the impact of available surface area.