Floating Solar Photovoltaic System Design and Yield Estimation for Aulo Dam in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija

This study presents the design and energy yield estimation of a Floating Solar Photovoltaic (FPV) system for Aulo Dam in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, as a sustainable solution for agricultural irrigation. It addresses rising energy demand wh ile promoting renewable systems that do not compete with agricultural land, aligning with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The system was designed and evaluated using simulation tools considering solar irradiance, wind load, and hydrological conditions, while a scaled prototype was developed to validate system performance and structural stability. Results show that the proposed 600 Wp system can generate 762.94 kWh annually with a 93.1% solar fraction. Paired with a 0.5 hp pump, the system can deliver approximately 10,800 liters of water within a 4.5-hour solar window and irrigate about 0.41 hectares of rice field. The findings demonstrate that FPV deployment at Aulo Dam is feasible and can provide a reliable, cost-effective, and land-efficient energy source for sustainable agricultural irrigation.