Performance and economic evaluation of monofacial and bifacial floating photovoltaic systems in Taiwan's coastal marine climate

Floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems offer an effective solution to land constraints and enhance energy sustainability, especially in regions such as Taiwan where land availability for solar projects is limited. This study evaluates the electrical and thermal performance of monofacial and bifacial photovoltaic modules deployed on a floating platform in a coastal marine environment, using a 5-day summer dataset. Over five consecutive days under stable weather conditions, experimental analyses were conducted to evaluate key metrics including daily energy generation, normalized efficiency, and surface temperature. An advanced weather station recorded environmental parameters, including wind speed, solar irradiance, humidity, and ambient temperature in real time, enabling detailed correlations with panel performance. Results indicate bifacial modules generally achieved higher energy yields by capturing irradiance reflected from the water surface. Conversely, certain monofacial modules exhibited superior normalized efficiency and lower Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), highlighting their economic suitability for FPV applications. Economic evaluation further revealed the cost advantages of bifacial modules, particularly when deployed over reflective water surfaces. These insights support optimal module selection for marine-based FPV systems and inform future policies and infrastructure planning to advance Taiwan’s offshore renewable energy development.