• Semi-systematic review methodology applied to floating photovoltaic cooling literature. • Active and passive floating photovoltaic cooling strategies critically compared. • Thermal performance interpreted considering climatic and system variability. • Techno-economic indicators and technology readiness levels assessed. Floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems provide a promising pathway for large-scale renewable energy generation; however, elevated module temperatures reduce electrical efficiency and accelerate material degradation. Despite increasing research on FPV cooling, a quantitative synthesis of performance and techno-economic benefits remains limited. This study presents a novel semi-systematic review of FPV cooling technologies, analysing their thermal behaviour, electrical performance, and economic feasibility. A structured literature screening process identified 44 relevant studies, from which 8 representative studies were selected for detailed comparative analysis of five key cooling methods. The results indicate that the performance and applicability of FPV cooling technologies are strongly influenced by climatic conditions, system configuration, and operational strategy. Active cooling methods achieve temperature reductions of up to 36 °C, resulting in net efficiency gains up to 11.7% after accounting for auxiliary energy (<1% of output). Passive systems provide lower temperature reductions (3–15 °C) but offer significant economic benefits, including cost of electricity reductions of up to 17.7%. It is concluded that while active cooling methods offer superior thermal performance, passive systems present a more scalable and cost-effective solution for large-scale deployment. By integrating thermal, economic, and readiness analyses, this review provides a structured roadmap for developing efficient cooling methods.
Sutanto et al. (Wed,) studied this question.