Assessment of Technical Potential of Floating Solar Photovoltaic System for Electricity Generation in Zambia

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) |Volume VIII, Issue V, May 2023|ISSN 2454-6194

Assessment of Technical Potential of Floating Solar Photovoltaic System for Electricity Generation in Zambia

Chrispin LUMPOTE, Mabvuto MWANZA
Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Zambia, P.O.Box32379, Lusaka,
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51584/IJRIAS.2023.8502
Received: 28 October 2022; Accepted: 22 November 2022; Published: 22 May 2023

Abstract: Sustainable hydropower development provides a basis for a reliable and stable power source that is economical and environmentally friendly. Zambia is heavily dependent on hydropower whose hydrological pattern is facing serious threats from frequent droughts and severe weather conditions affecting power generation. However, Zambia’s hydropower is characterized by larger water reservoirs (Mulungushi, Itezhi Tezhi, Kafue Gorge and Kariba North) receiving high solar energy exceeding 2000 kWh/m2 per year. Hence, integration of floating solar PV systems with hydropower could help boost hydropower production during dry periods and save loss of water through vapor. The paper aims at assessing the technical potential of integrating floating solar PV systems for electricity generation on the existing larger hydropower water reservoirs. The findings indicate that larger hydropower reservoirs have a total surface area of 11,146 km2 equivalent to an annual theoretical solar energy potential of 25,610TWh.At 10% of the total coverage of all the surface areas, the technical potential is estimated at 172.76 GWP (Monocrystalline), 141.44 GWP (CIS) and 116.10 GWP (CdTe) equivalent to an annual solar electricity generation potential of 304 TWh, 244 TWh and 211TWh respectively. In short, Zambia has huge potential for integration of floating solar with hydropower using the existing power grid infrastructure to increase on the electricity generation for the nation. Additionally, the solar energy profile fits well with the electricity demand profile for Zambia which makes it a better alternative for the energy mix of the country. These findings are vital to providing a guide to decision-makers for the inclusion of floating solar energy in the future national energy mix and conservation of land.

Keywords: Substation Reserve Utilizations, Floating Solar PV, Electricity Generation, Photovoltaic, Renewable Energy, Hydro Reservoirs

I. Introduction

Zambia’s electricity mainly comes from renewable and none renewable energy. Renewable energy involves the generation of power using water as the prime mover of the turbines. while Solar energy comes from solar radiation. None renewable energy involves generation of power using fossil fuel materials that diminish and are not widely available throughout the country. Currently, reasonable fossil fuel deposits are found in Maamba district of Southern Province of Zambia [1,5,8]. The country has been using electricity since the early century and since then hydropower generation has evolved greatly such that, the total generation by 2021 generation was at 2,704.5 MW [28,36]. There are other renewable energy sources existing such as (biomass, wind, and [28]. Hydropower is an important source of energy in Zambia and it accounts for 81.5 percent of the total national energy generation of 3,318.4 MW [3,28]. Additionally, Zambia has an untapped hydropower potential of about 6000MW [1,36]. However, in recent past decades poor rainfall patterns, have been affecting the country’s hydrological pattern [2,6,26,39]. In the 2016/2017 rain season, Zambia and most parts of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), experienced the worst drought and prolonged poor weather conditions [4,5]. Thus, the availability of water resources has been altered due to droughts, which have led to, reduced hydropower generation as can be seen in (figure 1.1) and an increased energy deficit in the nation [6]. This was caused by poor rainfall patterns as the result of raising temperatures experienced because of climate change [6,7,8,34]. Higher temperatures increased the loss of water through evaporation affecting the average capacity factor of hydropower. Considering the effects of climate change and its consequences on hydropower plant, other low-carbon energy technologies such as floating solar Photovoltaic systems need to be Prioritized and deployed at a large scale [10]. African countries have an exceptional solar potential with a yearly average solar energy exceeding 2000 kWh/m2 [3]. Currently, Africa accounts for a PV installed capacity of only 5 GW of which Zambia has 96 MW translating to less than 1% of the total capacity of Africa’s solar energy.

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