Study of the integration of solar cells in dams: the case study of Montargil Dam

Abstract In today’s world, humanity faces a critical challenge: the transition to sustainable energy sources. A significant proportion of the world’s energy consumption depends on non-renewable resources, leading to greenhouse gas emissions and the depletion of finite reserves. Renewable energy sources are, therefore, emerging as a promising solution. Based on PVGIS database, this study aims to analyse the integration of a hybrid systems combining solar energy and hydroelectric power. To study the implementation of this solution, nine hydroelectric dams in Portugal are pre-selected. Of these, the Montargil dam is chosen because its characteristics gave it the greatest technical and economic potential for installing the PV system. The research also included the evaluation of different panel alternatives, which will be implemented on the downstream wall, to achieve the most attractive solution in terms of energy produced/investment. For the selected option, two possible slopes are studied, one where the slope of the dam itself is used as the slope for the panels, and the other taking into consideration the ideal slope for optimizing solar harvesting. The results confirm the financial viability of this implementation, presenting a payback time lower than 10 years and a LCOE of 30.4 €/MWh. This innovative approach not only diversifies the energy landscape but also promotes sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and optimising the use of natural resources. The research offers a promising vision for the future of energy production, in line with the urgent need to combat climate change and ensure a sustainable energy supply.