Floating Photovoltaics in Västra Götaland: A GIS-Based Assessment of Lake Suitability and Energy Potential. Oluwatobi

Sammanfattning

This thesis examines the feasibility of floating photovoltaic (FPV) deployment across lakes inVästra Götaland, Sweden adopting a GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA)framework. The study combines criteria ranging from technical and environmental toinfrastructural and land-use, to identify lakes with the highest relative suitability for FPVdeployment. A comprehensive workflow which included lake filtering based on size, shape,proximity to roads and substations, and distance from protected areas was developed,reducing 1,770 lakes to 21 candidates. The SEBE model which computes shortwave radiationfrom global, diffuse, and direct components was used on QGIS 3.42.1 to model solar resourceavailability. Criteria were normalized to ensure uniformity and straightforward analysis.Weights were assigned using the Analytic Hierarchy Process, and suitability scores weresubsequently aggregated through Weighted Linear Combination. In parallel, a publicperception study examined attitudes toward FPV feasibility and acceptability. Together, theseinsights provide a screening-level evaluation that can support future FPV planning and policydevelopment.