Harnessing the power of water: Curtin researchers advance floating solar energy

By Dr. Ramanan C J

As the global population grows and economies expand, the world’s demand for energy continues to surge. Rapid industrialisation, urbanisation, technological advancement, and rising living standards are placing unprecedented pressure on energy systems worldwide. Yet traditional fossil fuel resources remain finite and their environmental impact increasingly unsustainable.

In response, nations across the globe are accelerating the transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions. International frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action), alongside the Paris Agreement, have reinforced the urgency of achieving a low-carbon future.

Among the many renewable energy technologies available today, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have emerged as one of the most promising solutions. Solar energy is abundant, scalable, and increasingly cost-effective. However, one major challenge remains: the vast land area required for large-scale solar installations.

This challenge has led researchers to explore an innovative alternative – Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) systems, where solar panels are installed on water bodies such as reservoirs, lakes, and dams.

Floating photovoltaic systems offer several advantages over traditional land-based solar installations. They conserve valuable land resources, reduce water evaporation from reservoirs, and benefit from the cooling effect of water, which can enhance solar panel efficiency.

Although FPV technology has seen rapid global adoption in recent years, it is still in a relatively early stage of development. Understanding how these systems perform under different environmental conditions remains critical for maximisng their potential.

Solar photovoltaic system installed at the Solar Research Field near the football ground at Curtin University Malaysia, where researchers conduct real-world experiments comparing floating and land-based solar performance under tropical conditions.

At Curtin University Malaysia, researchers Dr. Ramanan C J, Professor Garenth Lim King Hann, and Associate Professor Jundika Candra Kurnia have been at the forefront of advancing FPV technology through innovative research and international collaboration.

To address the lack of consensus on whether floating systems outperform land-based photovoltaic (LPV) systems, the Curtin research team conducted an extensive review of more than 300 scientific studies worldwide. From 19 comparative studies across diverse geographic locations, the results showed that FPV systems generally produce 0.6% to 4.4% more energy, with efficiency improvements ranging from 0.1% to 4.45% compared to land-based systems.

These findings, published in the leading journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, highlight the significant potential of floating solar technology to enhance renewable energy generation.

Floating Solar Farm at Batang Ai Dam, an example of how reservoirs can be transformed into clean energy hubs. Floating photovoltaic systems can conserve land, reduce water evaporation, and improve solar panel efficiency. Image courtesy of Sarawak Energy Berhad (SAREF 4.0), from saref.com.my.

Beyond evaluating system performance, the Curtin team also explored innovative ways to improve floating solar efficiency through passive cooling techniques.

Using advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, the researchers investigated how the installation height of solar panels above the water surface affects thermal performance. Their simulations, published in Renewable Energy, suggested that raising the panels slightly above standard installation heights improves airflow and cooling beneath the modules.

To validate these findings, the team conducted in-house experiments at Curtin University Malaysia’s Solar Research Field in Miri. The results were compelling: floating solar panels installed at greater heights above the water demonstrated significantly improved electrical output due to lower operating temperatures and improved ventilation.

Across a six-day average, the elevated FPV installation achieved a 2.90% increase in normalized power output compared with an identical land-based system.

Even modest gains like these can have substantial economic impact. The improved efficiency can reduce the levelised cost of energy by approximately 0.05% to 0.7%, lowering electricity costs for consumers. Additionally, reduced thermal stress slows material degradation, extending the lifespan of solar panels by around seven months beyond the typical 25–30 years.

These experimental findings were published in leading journals including Applied Energy and IEEE Xplore.

Floating and land-based photovoltaic systems at the Curtin Malaysia Solar Research Field, integrated with a custom-built weather monitoring and PV energy measurement system developed by Curtin researchers to study solar performance in real time.

To support their experimental studies, the research team also developed a novel microcontroller-based remote monitoring system capable of collecting real-time weather and energy performance data.

Built around a Raspberry Pi platform, the system achieved a 91.2% data reception success rate under real-world operating conditions.

A particularly notable innovation was the development of a relay-based measurement strategy that enables accurate monitoring of the non-linear electrical behaviour of solar panels under varying load conditions – without relying on costly electronic loads typically used in laboratory environments.

With its low cost, simple design, and high measurement accuracy, the system represents a significant advancement for solar research and field monitoring. The work was published in the IEEE Internet of Things Journal.

One of the most significant outcomes of Curtin’s floating solar research is the development of a copyrighted mathematical model for predicting floating photovoltaic cell temperature.

Solar panels typically achieve their rated efficiency at 25 °C, and each 1 °C rise in temperature can reduce power output by approximately 0.3% to 0.5%. Accurate temperature prediction is therefore critical for estimating energy output, optimizing system design, and improving cost projections.

Curtin’s FPV-NOCT temperature model offers a unique advantage: it is compatible with the widely used Nominal Operating Cell Temperature (NOCT) equation, enabling seamless integration into existing solar energy estimation tools – a capability not currently available in most commercial software.

When tested at the floating solar plant on Passaúna Lake in Brazil, the model accurately predicted 100% of measured panel temperatures. Additional validation at FPV installations in Windsor and Oakville demonstrated 92.3% accuracy within a ±2 °C tolerance.

This capability makes the model highly valuable for energy forecasting, system design optimisation, performance evaluation, and financial analysis of solar projects.

Curtin’s research on floating solar has attracted strong international attention. The team’s publications have been widely cited in academic literature and referenced in industry platforms, policy discussions, and media outlets around the world.

The research has been cited in European policy discussions, featured in more than 15 international media outlets across multiple languages, and highlighted by industry analysts exploring large-scale floating solar deployment.

Dr. Ramanan was also interviewed by The Energy Pioneer, discussing the potential of floating solar at major infrastructure sites such as Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe.

Closer to home, the Curtin research team has supported Sarawak Energy Berhad in assessing the floating solar potential of Sarawak’s major hydroelectric reservoirs. Their analysis suggests that large-scale floating solar deployment across these reservoirs could theoretically generate enough electricity to meet the entire energy demand of the ASEAN region.

Supported by the Curtin Malaysia Sustainability Research Grant (CMSR), this research reinforces Curtin Malaysia’s commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions aligned with the global Net Zero agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Floating solar photovoltaic research team at Curtin University Malaysia: (L-R) Dr Ramanan C J, Lecturer in Energy Engineering; Professor Lim King Hann, Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Associate Professor Jundika Candra Kurnia, Deputy Director of the Centre of New and Sustainable Energy Research and Ventures (CoNSERV).

Dr. Ramanan C J is a Lecturer in Energy Engineering in the Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science at Curtin University Malaysia. He recently completed his PhD at Curtin Malaysia, where he led research on floating photovoltaic systems under the supervision of Professor Garenth Lim King Hann and Associate Professor Jundika Candra Kurnia between 2022 and 2025. His research focuses on advancing UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy – with particular emphasis on renewable energy systems and environmental sustainability. His expertise includes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling using ANSYS Fluent, floating solar photovoltaics, biodiesel systems, Internet of Things applications, microcontroller systems, and numerical modelling for sustainable energy technologies.