Who Knew Silicon Could Float?

Grist: “What will the rise of floating solar panels mean for wildlife?” Market for floating photovoltaics, or floatovoltaics is ‘exploding’ as scientists study how to craft systems that work for waterbirds + other critters. Power is generated + evaporation is reduced. ‘And water cools the panels, increasing their efficiency.’ Market expected to grow an average of 23% each year between 2025 and 2030 — while scientists investigate how the technology might influence ecosystems. “The shading, for instance, might stunt the growth of algae that some species eat — but at the same time, it might also prevent the growth of toxic algae.” The floats might prevent waterbirds from landing — but also might provide habitat for them to hide from predators. “Renewable energy, low-carbon electricity, is a really good thing for us, but we shouldn’t be expanding it at the cost of biodiversity loss,” said Elliott Steele, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis, + co-author of a recent paper about floatovoltaics and conservation in the journal Nature Water. “The majority of floatovoltaic deployments are in human-made water bodies like reservoirs and wastewater-treatment ponds — and these solar panels are no different than ones you’d find on land or on rooftops. If a reservoir features a hydroelectric facility, there might be less water to spin the turbines, but the amount of solar generation could be higher. “A hybrid floating solar and hydropower system can have a more stable power output throughout the year,” said Prateek Joshi, an energy researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. A number of concepts to ponder.