Earth is no longer the limit for solar energy. From The Acts of India until The Swiss Alps reservoirsgoing through more and more swamps in the Iberian Peninsula. Floating solar panels begin to cover all types of bodies of water with advantages that go beyond the generation of electricity, such as stop water evaporation in the areas most whipped by drought.
The other effects of floating solar energy. Something we have less studied is how floating solar panels affect the ecosystem of some bodies of water, particularly small ponds and lagoons.
A Recent Study of Cornell University It has analyzed the environmental consequences of covering these smaller bodies of water with floating solar energy and the conclusion is unexpected: they can significantly increase the emission of greenhouse gases of the organisms that inhabit the pond.
The experiment. To carry out your research, scientists They installed photovoltaic panels on three experimental ponds In the Experimental Cornell Pond Facity. In total, they covered 70% of their surface.
On the other hand, they left ponds exposed as control groups for the experiment. In this way, they managed to observe the changes and the evolution of the ponds in which they had installed floating solar energy by comparing them directly with other similar ponds without panels.
The results. Although it was thought that floating solar energy has an environmental impact less than other energy sources, the results showed that it can generate counterproductive effects.
Specifically, the researchers registered a significant increase in methane concentrations and carbon dioxide dissolved in the water, which raised greenhouse gas emissions of semi -covered ponds almost 27% compared to the unbreaking ponds Solar
In addition, they observed a considerable decrease in the availability of dissolved oxygen, which can affect aquatic life and alter ecological processes such as decomposition and microbial activity.
The conclusion. Although part of the gases were more slowly released due to the lower amount of water exposed to the sun, the largest concentration in the form of bubbles ended up increasing the total amount of emissions.
These findings are especially relevant in the context of the energy transition, since many floating solar energy facilities are carried out in small lakes and ponds without taking into account how they affect the ecosystem.
Here is the complicated part. If we compare the greenhouse gas emission trace per kilowatt generated time, floating solar energy remains more favorable than fossil fuel -based technologies. But the study shows that we still do not know very well how these rapid changes in the energy industry are affecting certain ecosystems. You have to continue investigating.
Image | Cornell University
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