SPARKLES
Responsible upscaling of floating solar
De-carbonization of the energy supply sector is a key priority to meet the goals of the Dutch Climate Act. Solar power is generally considered a desirable alternative to fossil fuels, but the installation of these photovoltaic systems (PV) requires considerable space. To achieve the ambitions of the Dutch Government, large-scale deployment of PV is needed- including placement on inland waters, through Floating Photovoltaics (FPV). However, the environmental impacts of FPV is not well understood, and policy and legislation concerning their implementation are not yet in place.
SPARKLES aims to develop sustainable, nature-inclusive solutions for FPV. Specifically, SPARKLES addresses the disconnect of the domains of energy science, ecology and governance that currently hampers responsible upscaling of FPV. By creating interdisciplinary frameworks and fostering collaboration with stakeholders, SPARKLES seeks to balance energy needs with ecological and social benefits across local, regional, and national scales.
Funded by NWO.
Latest news
-
Talking ecosystem response to FPV in Montréal
At the joint ASLO-SIL Confluence in Montréal, SPARKLES PhD Daniela Seitz presented her work on aquatic methane emission dynamics related to floating solar installations!
-
An inspiring General Assembly in Groningen
Hosted by Hanze University of Applied Sciences, in April the consortium came together once again to exchange insights at the two-day General Assembly.
-
Making Waves in Solar: Thermal Dynamics of FPV
Solar Panels on water? Yes, and it turns out most of them are more efficient than land-based ones, because the water and air flowing keeps them passively cool. But here's the challenge nobody has fully cracked yet: how significant is this cooling effect, and how consistently does it translate into increased energy generation?