Design and thermal-energy performance analysis of foam-based floating photovoltaic systems in a cold climate: experimental results from a 7 kW floatovoltaics in Canada
| Authors | Koami Soulemane Hayibo Md Motakabbir Rahman Joshua M. Pearce |
|---|---|
| Location | London, ON, Canada |
| Status | Designed Modelled Prototyped Verified |
| Verified by | FAST |
| Uses | renewable energy |
Floating photovoltaics (FPV), or floatovoltaics, offers several synergistic benefits over land-based PV, but has not been investigated for cold climates. This study introduces a 7 kW semi-flexible monocrystalline foam-backed FPV system operating on a pond in the cold climate of Ontario Canada and equipped with an air bubbler system for ice prevention. The system is monitored using an open source data acquisition platform that records meteorological variables, water and module temperatures, electrical output and high resolution imagery in both summer and winter conditions. A comparison of measured FPV temperatures with those simulated by previous models revealed a notable discrepancy during the winter season. A regression model developed in this study indicated that the foam-based FPV system generated 7.7. MWh/year, representing up to 2.7% more energy than other PV models (e.g. Faiman FPV, Kamuyu et al., etc.). The FPV array storm water pond coverage scaled linearly with evaporation reduction, reaching a maximum of 927 m3/year if 50% of the pond is covered, demonstrating the potential for foam-based FPV to save water and support agricultural water needs. In addition, the deployed air-bubbler system successfully maintained ice-free open water throughout the winter season with negligible additional energy consumption, ranging from 0.02% (1.9 kWh) to 14.5% (893 kWh) of the total annual yield. The new methodological approach, detailed in this study, enables FPV operations of any kind in cold climates where ice formation has historically constrained deployment. Finally, the system achieved a positive net present value (∼57,000 $CAD) under a high electricity price scenario ($0.55 CAD/kWh) for off-grid systems, yielding a discounted payback period of 4.2 years. Overall, the results of this study established foam-based FPV as a promising and adaptable platform for renewable energy generation, introduces a transferable ice-melting model for cold-climate operations, and highlights the unique performance dynamics of flat-tilt FPV modules in icy environments. These advances provide a solid foundation for future research at larger scales and across diverse water bodies, thereby positioning FPV as a viable technology for sustainable energy expansion not only in warm climates but also in cold regions.
Highlights
[edit | edit source]- A 7 kW foam-backed FPV system was deployed on a pond in Ontario, Canada.
- The air bubbler maintained ice-free conditions with minimal energy use.
- A novel ice-melting model enables FPV deployment in cold climates.
- FPV coverage linearly reduced pond evaporation, aiding agricultural water conservation.
- Results support FPV scalability across diverse water bodies in cold regions.
See also
[edit | edit source]- Experimental integration of a foam-based floating photovoltaic (floatovoltaic) system with an anion exchange membrane electrolyzer for 5 kW-Scale green hydrogen production
- Performance of Off-grid Floating Photovoltaic-Battery System Powering an Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyser for Green Hydrogen Production
== In the News==
- Foam-based floating PV system for cold climates PV Magazine
Floatovoltaics
[edit | edit source]The Western Innovation for Renewable Energy (WIRED) system is currently under construction to test out new open source methods to reduce PV systems costs and enable novel forms of floatovoltaics, BIPV and agrivoltaics including the world's first agrivoltaic agrotunnel.
| Authors | Joshua M. Pearce |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Organizations | FAST, Western |
| Cite as | Joshua M. Pearce (2026). "Design and thermal-energy performance analysis of foam-based floating photovoltaic systems in a cold climate: experimental results from a 7 kW floatovoltaics in Canada". Appropedia. Retrieved September 8, 2026. |