Harnessing water for solar power: Economic and environmental insights from floating photovoltaic systems in Greece and in Cyprus

In this work, an analysis of the photovoltaic development possibilities on floating platforms is carried out in Greece and Cyprus calculating the theoretical potential of the technology in natural and man-made reservoirs. Floating Photovoltaic Systems (FPS) can be effectively deployed in Greek lakes due to suitable conditions that allow for development without impacting local communities or habitats. While Cyprus lacks sufficient lakes for widespread FPS deployment, integrating FPS on near-shore and offshore surfaces could enhance Cyprus’s energy mix and capitalize on the country’s abundant solar resources. It was revealed that in Greece even with less than 5% coverage of the water area in artificial and natural lakes (in most cases less than 1%), half of the photovoltaic electricity generation can be met, while in Cyprus the potential for the development of FPSs was not deemed likely due to the fragile status of the country’s water bodies.