Selection of photovoltaic panels for floating systems: an analysis based on Entropy, CRITIC and TOPSIS

In the context of sustainable energy use, multiple criteria are involved in the decision to select the best energy generation projects, as well as its installation location. However, despite the widespread use of decision-making techniques, there is a noticeable gap due to the lack of a systematic process for selecting the best projects for energy transition. This paper evaluates alternatives of photovoltaic panels for energy generation in floating systems and proposes a procedure to select the best project using a multiple-criteria decision analysis. The Entropy method was used to determine the weight of eight criteria, including cost, number of cells, efficiency, area, panel weight, and power characteristics, and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was used to make the selection. A sensitivity analysis was conducted considering different weighing methods. Among the 20 photovoltaic panels analysed, the method proved to be effective in determining the most successful one for installation in floating systems. The chosen panel maintained the best performance in all scenarios tested. This paper provides a systematic approach for selecting the most suitable photovoltaic panel for floating energy systems, contributing to researchers to refine decision-making methodologies and practitioners to optimise project implementation in sustainable energy initiatives.