Performance and Techno Economic Analysis of The Cirata Floating Photovoltaic Power Plant: A Comparison with Ground Mounted Systems

The global push toward net zero emissions have intensified the transition from fossil-based to renewable energy systems, with solar power playing a vital role. PT. PLN (Persero) as national electricity company of Indonesia has responded by developing the Cirata Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) power plant, the first and largest FPV facility in the country, leveraging the nation's abundant solar potential and minimizing land use conflicts. This study evaluates the first-year performance of the Cirata FPV (December 2023-November 2024) by analyzing key performance indicators including energy yield, performance ratio (PR), and techno economic factors. The plant generated approximately 280 GWh, achieving 95 percent of its projected energy target, with a PR of 79 percent, representing 93 percent of the design target. The floating configuration provides a natural cooling effect that reduces module temperatures by 2 to 5 degrees Celsius compared to ground mounted systems, leading to a performance gain of up to 17 percent. From an economic perspective, significant cost savings were realized using floating structures instead of conventional land acquisition, resulting in estimated savings of 50.3 percent. Additionally, the plant contributed to an annual reduction of approximately 243,670 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions compared to coal fired generation. These findings demonstrate the viability and benefits of FPV systems in tropical regions and support their broader adoption to accelerate Indonesia's renewable energy transition. © 2025 IEEE.