Mission

SPARKLES intends to develop the knowledge needed to create sustainable and nature-inclusive solutions for FPV. We consider FPV not as a monofunctional technological solution that can simply be applied everywhere, but as elements of sustainable, energy generating landscapes that deliver renewable energy, biodiversity, and valuable ecosystem services simultaneously.

Given the pressing need for energy transition, as well as the pressing needs for restoring or maintaining ecosystem health, SPARKLES focuses on tackling the core challenges that hamper upscaling of FPV in the Netherlands. To do so we aim to:

• Break through existing silos: SPARKLES will integrate knowledge, data, and insights from the disciplines of energy, ecological and social science and practice. Knowledge relevant to upscaling FPV is not absent, but highly siloed within its own domains. By breaking through the barriers of these domains we will reach FPV design and placement that maximise benefits for humans and nature. 
• Develop knowledge and tools spanning spatial scales: SPARKLES will design innovative frameworks and models that assess FPV impacts from individual water bodies, to landscapes, and national distributions throughout the Netherlands. By creating interdisciplinary tools, we facilitate more integral assessments of FPV in relation to nature.
• Build a systems thinking community: SPARKLES will create a community trained in systems thinking to balance energy production and social needs. This community and the learning approaches applied can serve as an example to other sectors within the Netherlands and abroad.

By uniting disciplines and fostering collaboration, SPARKLES paves the way for responsible FPV deployment that supports the transition to a renewable energy future while protecting ecosystems.