Floating Photovoltaic Potential Assessment of Angat Reservoir, Philippines using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems

Abstract. The Philippines faces a continuous energy dilemma as population growth increases electricity demand from nonrenewable resources, which consequently raises electricity prices and contributes to environmental degradation. While solar energy offers a cleaner alternative, its potential remains underutilized due to land scarcity and performance issues related to land-based installations. Therefore, this study explored the potential of floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems on the Angat Reservoir in the Philippines as a sustainable alternative for solar energy production. This study utilized remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) to systematically assess both the theoretical and technical solar potential of the Angat Reservoir based on solar yield, highly usable area, and the specifications of the selected photovoltaic (PV) modules. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was specifically employed to determine the weights per criterion to select highly usable areas for FPV installation. The results revealed an annual theoretical potential of approximately 1,609.85 kWh/m². Moreover, with a 4.26 km² highly usable area, the reservoir demonstrated an electricity generation potential of around 909.42 GWh and an overall technical potential of approximately 1,295 kWh/kWp. These findings confirm the significant potential of Angat Reservoir for solar energy production through FPV deployment.