Investor Presentation
System voltage 1,500 Vdc
Helical screw
bank anchor
PV modules
Floats/
pontoons
Module
efficiency
19-20%
Elastic
mooring line
Anchoring
Overview of FPV Systems
Transmission
Combiner
box
Depth
25-100m
Transformer
Central
inverter
Percussive
bank anchor
Figure. Schematic of Typical FPV System
Surrounding
topography
Input from
other arrays
Modules: Same PV technology as ground-mount or rooftop PV,
with the emerging potential for tracking and/or bifacial panels.
Site: Typically sited on artificial waterbodies (e.g., reservoirs,
retention ponds, etc.), with emerging applications on natural
waterbodies, both inland and offshore.
Structure: Platforms consist primarily of high-density
polyethylene (HDPE) floats, with potentially different
considerations for offshore sites. Anchors and mooring lines
minimize lateral movement of the system. Racking material is
similar to land-based PV (e.g., stainless steel).
Electrical Components: Similar equipment as a land-based PV
installation, with some different considerations for freshwater
or marine environments (e.g., electrical cables connecting the
modules to each other, and connecting the modules to the
central inverter).
Source: Ramasamy and Margolis (2021)
Figure: Alfred Hicks, NREL 65944
NREL | 6View entire presentation