New International Project: Floating Solar Energy Systems

Project name: Multi-Purpose Floating Solar Power Plant

Funding Institution: TÜBİTAK-MSRT (Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and Technology) Bilateral Cooperation Program

The goal of the project:

In the scope of this project, it is planned to present a suitable and realistic roadmap for the design of floating solar power plants for both countries with experimental and numerical modeling studies to be carried out in both countries. In the study, not only will the solar energy potential of lakes and reservoirs be determined, but also an appropriate design will be developed for the selected regions. While being able to benefit from the solar energy potential in this way can be a response to the increasing energy demand, evaporation can be prevented to a significant extent due to the absorption of sunlight by the floating power plants installed on the lake reservoir, so the water resources can be protected. This research consists of the determination of suitable locations for floating solar platforms, the hydrodynamic analysis of platform and mooring ropes, the analysis of electrical and mechanical performance of variable PV models and the tests of the system prototype and its analysis economically. The project is in harmony with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (United Nations Sustainable Development – 17 Goals to Transform Our World): 

GOAL 7: Accessible and Clean Energy

GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Living Spaces

GOAL 13: Climate Action

GOAL 17: Partnerships for Goals

Project Coordinators: Dr. Elif OĞUZ (METU), Dr. Mahdi KHORASANCHI (Sharif Technology University, Iran)

Project Duration: 18 months (September 2021 – March 2023)

Consortium:

• Elif Oğuz, METU Civil Eng. Department and RÜZGEM-Wind Energy Research Center
• Nejan Huvaj, METU Civil Eng. Department and RÜZGEM-Wind Energy Research Center
• Raşit Turan, METU Physics Department and GÜNAM-Solar Energy Research Center 
• Mahdi Khorasanchi, Sharif Techonology University, Iran, Mechanical Eng. Department
• Majid Abbaspour, Sharif Technology University, Iran, Mechanical Eng. Department

Total Budget: 481325 TL