Dual Water–Energy Potential of Floating Photovoltaics in Morocco: Multi-Criteria Reservoir Selection, System-Performance Modelling, and Evaporation-Saving Assessment
Salma SEDKI, Mohamed Reda EL AOUNI, Houssame LIMAMI
Abstract. This study develops a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to identify the optimal Moroccan reservoir for Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) applications and assess related savings on energy and water resources. Ten reservoirs were analyzed using Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) software with criteria related to hydrological stability, energy production using Morris Sensitivity analysis, and cost/accessibility using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The highest-ranking site, Oued El Makhazine, was modeled in System Advisor Model (SAM) under a conservative 5% coverage scenario. Results show an annual electricity production level of 396.62 GWh with a capacity factor of 17.3% and levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) value of 0.0573 $/kWh, which can cover the power demand of 396,620 people on an annual basis. Evaporation loss was estimated using the simplified Penman method in MATLAB with expected annual savings of 1.856 million m³, meeting the domestic water needs of 41,336 residents. These findings demonstrate the strong co-benefits of FPV for clean energy generation and freshwater conservation in water-stressed regions.
Keywords
FPV, Water Scarcity, MCDA, Water Savings, Evaporation, GIS, LCOE
Published online 4/25/2026, 13 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Salma SEDKI, Mohamed Reda EL AOUNI, Houssame LIMAMI, Dual Water–Energy Potential of Floating Photovoltaics in Morocco: Multi-Criteria Reservoir Selection, System-Performance Modelling, and Evaporation-Saving Assessment, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 64, pp 135-147, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904091-17
The article was published as article 17 of the book Energy Futures
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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