2024-01-19-世界银行-释放印度浮动太阳能光伏的潜力（英）-2023-152页._152页_3mb

Summary of "Unlocking the Potential of Floating Solar Photovoltaics in India"

Core Content

This report explores the potential of Floating Solar Photovoltaics (FSPV) in India and proposes strategies to accelerate its deployment. It is part of a three-volume study, with Volume 1 focusing on the main report, Volume 2 on technical guidance, and Volume 3 on green jobs.

India has a significant potential for FSPV, estimated at around 300 gigawatts (GW), but only less than 350 megawatts (MW) has been realized to date. The report identifies key barriers to FSPV development and outlines a roadmap for overcoming them.

Main Points

1. Overview of FSPV and Its Benefits

• FSPV is a promising renewable energy technology that can be installed on inland water bodies, avoiding land use conflicts and reducing costs.
• Benefits of FSPV include:
  • Lower land acquisition and site preparation costs
  • Improved system efficiency due to the cooling effect of water
  • Reduced shading effects leading to better solar PV performance
  • Higher panel density per area
  • Co-location with power plants reduces infrastructure costs
  • Decreased algae growth and water evaporation, improving water body maintenance and availability
  • Conversion of underutilized spaces into revenue-generating assets

2. Value Chain Mapping and Barriers

• A comprehensive value chain assessment was conducted to identify stakeholders and their roles in FSPV development.
• Key stakeholders include:
  • Component manufacturers (e.g., floaters, solar panels)
  • Research and development (R&D) institutions
  • Government bodies (e.g., MNRE, CERC, CWC)
  • Distribution companies (DISCOMs)
  • Independent Power Producers (IPPs)
• Identified barriers include:
  • Limited visibility of deployment scale
  • High complexity in design and installation
  • Lack of standardized technical guidelines
  • Limited workforce skills in FSPV-specific areas
  • Absence of robust policy frameworks
• Recommendations to address these barriers include:
  • Setting FSPV targets and developing roadmaps
  • Creating a plug-and-play model under the Solar Park Scheme
  • Upscaling manufacturing of floaters and related components
  • Building skills and capacity with a focus on gender and diversity
  • Developing technical standards and guidelines
  • Encouraging R&D and information dissemination
  • Promoting various business models such as RESCO

3. Benchmarking Against International Practices

• The report benchmarks FSPV ecosystems in Japan, Netherlands, and Vietnam.
• These countries face similar challenges to India in terms of land availability for large solar projects, making FSPV a viable alternative.
• Key learnings:
  • Technology-agnostic targets may be more suitable for India's developing market
  • Government-led initiatives such as the Solar Park Scheme can promote FSPV
  • Incentives and innovation in components are important for scalability
  • Collaboration between government and private players is crucial for success

4. Technical Standards and Tenders

• A review of technical standards and tender requirements for FSPV was conducted.
• Identified gaps include:
  • Lack of specific design codes for FSPV
  • Insufficient guidelines for testing and operation
  • Inconsistent technical specifications
• Recommendations:
  • Develop a Guidance Document (Volume 2) to standardize components and testing
  • Encourage the use of international standards such as DNV-RP-0584
  • Improve tender processes to ensure clarity and competitiveness

5. Regional Cooperation in South Asia

• South Asian countries share similar characteristics such as high population, low per capita electricity consumption, and reliance on imported oil.
• FSPV can be a key driver for regional energy transition.
• India can play a leadership role by sharing its experiences and mitigation strategies.
• Proposed avenues for regional cooperation include:
  • Participation in international forums like ISA and IRENA
  • Collaboration through SAREH and SAARC
  • Joint conferences and bilateral initiatives

Key Information

• Global Potential: Inland water bodies globally have the potential to support up to 4 Tera Watt (TW) of new power capacity.
• FSPV Growth: As of September 2020, global FSPV installed capacity was around 2.1 GW.
• India's Potential: India has an estimated potential of 300 GW for FSPV.
• Current Realization: Less than 350 MW of FSPV capacity has been realized in India.
• Technology Maturity: FSPV technology is rapidly maturing due to standardization, innovation, and cost reduction.
• Environmental Benefits: FSPV helps reduce water evaporation, supports biodiversity, and can be integrated with existing hydropower infrastructure.

Conclusion

Floating Solar Photovoltaics offer a viable solution to India's challenges in land availability and energy security. By addressing technical, policy, and workforce barriers, and by leveraging regional cooperation and international best practices, India can unlock its significant FSPV potential. This would contribute to its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, promote energy independence, and create new employment opportunities.