Sierra Brava Floating Photovoltaic Plant: Real Data vs Simulation Software

With the rapid expansion of the photovoltaic solar energy market, floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems have emerged as a promising alternative, gaining increasing prominence due to their dual benefits: enhanced energy production from the cooling effect of water bodies and reduced land use pressures by utilizing otherwise unused water surfaces. In light of these advantages, the development of accurate simulation models for FPV systems has become essential. This paper presents an initial approach to the modeling and validation of FPV systems using PVsyst, a software traditionally designed for groundmounted systems, in combination with real operational data from the Sierra Brava FPV plant. The comparison between simulated and actual production data shows strong alignment, yielding satisfactory results for this preliminary assessment.