Floating Solar Panels on Reservoirs Impact Phytoplankton Populations: A Modelling Experiment

Floating Solar Photovoltaic (FPV) deployment continues rapidly worldwide, outpacing under-standing of any concomitant environmental impacts. The findings in this study demonstrate that modelling, using an uncertainty framework, can provide useful insight into possible water body response. Specifically, this study found that FPV generally promotes cooler water temperatures that, coupled with deteriorated light conditions, slow phytoplankton growth. Results show that the location of an FPV on the water surface can significantly affect water body thermal dynamics, modifying phytoplankton response beyond the impacts of percentage coverage.