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Today, around 400 PSHPs globally do not make any additional use of their water reservoirs. Looking for ways to develop its owned infrastructure Ignitis Gamyba, together with Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) implemented pilot floating solar power plant project in Kruonis PSHP. Aimed at scientific research and developing innovations, this project was the first of its kind in the region.
During the primary stage of the project, Ignitis Gamyba and KTU planed to install an experimental (60 kW) solar power plant in the upper-reservoir of the Kruonis PSHP and develop an algorithm for managing the power plant and energy storage system. The algorithm will take into account constantly registered network and other physical parameters of the Kruonis PSHP. Theoretically, the structure resistant to ice and waves would also be designed to adjust to water-level variations.
Having evaluated the results of the pilot project, the company planed to assess the idea of covering the whole 300 ha upper-reservoir of Kruonis PSHP with floating solar power units. The full-size power plant could reach approx. 200-250 MW - twice as much as the current capacity of the Kaunas hydropower plant, generating enough electricity to supply more than 120k households yearly.
In February 2019, the experimental floating photovoltaic solar power plant project in Kruonis PSHP received funding from the Lithuanian Business Support Agency (LVPA). The total amount of 235,000 euros have been granted to the project. LVPA together with the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation have decided to fund the project after considering 139 applications, 91 of which received grants. The floating solar power plant project has been rated among the best applications.
In 2020, the design and construction works of the floating solar power plant were purchased. After collecting and evaluating the operational data of the experimental power plant, it was planned to evaluate the possibility of covering the whole upper-reservoir of Kruonis PSHP with the floating structure of solar modules.
During the assembly and testing of the solar power plant, it was established that the technological solutions currently used in the world are not suitable for the existing conditions in the Kruonis PSHP basin due to the complex influence of external factors. During the installation of floating solar power plant constructions, it turned out that the systems are not suitable for particularly difficult conditions prevailing in the upper-reservoir of Kruonis PSHP, which are significantly influenced by water level fluctuations, specific extremely strong force waves and other meteorological phenomena. In addition, during the experiment it became clear that the operation of the power plant is endangered by eddies and currents in the upper-reservoir of Kruonis PSHP, as well as ice formed on the power plant components due to waves and water splashes, not even before the upper-reservoir of Kruonis PSHP water surface freezes. After evaluating the above reasons and the results of the project, it was decided not to continue the pilot project.