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.