How does the Commercial Floating Solar (FPV) Evaporation & Albedo Yield Sizer calculate financial return and payback?

The solver models gross capital expenditure (CapEx), Section 48 Investment Tax Credits (ITC 30%–50%), 5-year MACRS accelerated depreciation, utility demand charge shaving, and levelized cost of energy (LCOE).

Does this calculator account for battery degradation over time?

Yes, it models standardized degradation curves (typically 1.5% to 2.2% annually for LiFePO4 cells) and accounts for battery pack augmentation cycles across a 20-to-25 year lifecycle.

What federal tax credits apply under the Inflation Reduction Act?

Under Section 48 and Section 45Y, qualifying clean energy and battery storage installations unlock a 30% base ITC, plus potential 10% domestic content and 10% energy community bonus adders.

NREL Floating Solar & Waterbody Conservation • Hydro-Solar Dual Use

Commercial Floating Solar (FPV) Evaporation & Yield Sizer

Size floating photovoltaic arrays on agricultural irrigation reservoirs, municipal wastewater basins, and quarry lakes. Model evaporative water loss mitigation (acre-feet/yr), water-surface microclimate cooling (+8% to +12% energy yield), and Section 48 ITC economics.

⚙️ Waterbody & Solar Array Specs

Waterbody Application Profile

DC System Size (kW-dc)

Water Surface Area (Acres)

Annual Solar Resource (Peak Sun Hrs/day)

Baseline Evaporation (Inches/yr)

Water Surface Cooling Temp Reduction (°C)

PV Temp Coefficient (%/°C)

Mooring & Anchoring Architecture

💵 Tariffs, Water Value & Incentives

Electric Tariff ($/kWh)

Water Value ($/Acre-Foot)

Installed CapEx ($/W-dc)

Section 48 ITC Credit (%)

Water Cooling Generation Boost

+8.9% MWh

+385 MWh/yr thermal bonus

Water Evaporation Saved

18.4M Gallons

56.5 Acre-Feet per year

Net Annual Economic Value

+$675,200 / yr

Electricity yield + saved water

Annual Dual-Benefit Revenue (Power + Water Mitigation) FPV CASHFLOW

Baseline Solar Generation Value: +$585,200 / yr

Water Cooling Thermal Efficiency Bonus: +$52,100 / yr

Conserved Water Resource Savings: +$37,900 / yr

(-) Marine Moorings & Inverter O&M: -$31,250 / yr

Net Annual FPV Stacked Revenue: +$643,950 / yr

Capital Investment & Payback Horizon

Turnkey CapEx

$3,625,000

Section 48 ITC

-$1,087,500

Simple Payback

3.9 Years

Floating PV platforms shield water surfaces from direct sunlight, reducing evaporation by 70% to 85% and blocking photosynthesis to prevent costly algae blooms. Concurrently, natural evaporative cooling maintains lower PV junction temperatures, unlocking an 8% to 12% boost in lifetime energy harvest compared to terrestrial ground-mounts.

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