In-Situ Water Quality Observations under a Large-Scale Floating Solar Farm Using Sensors and Underwater Drones

Rui L. Pedroso de Lima, Katerina Paxinou, Floris C. Boogaard, Olof Akkerman and Fen-Yu Lin
Additional contact information
Rui L. Pedroso de Lima: Indymo: Innovative Dynamic Monitoring, Molengraaffsingel 12, 2629 JD Delft, The Netherlands
Katerina Paxinou: NoorderRuimte, Centre of Applied Research and Innovation on Area Development, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Zernikeplein 7, P.O. Box 3037, 9701 DA Groningen, The Netherlands
Floris C. Boogaard: Indymo: Innovative Dynamic Monitoring, Molengraaffsingel 12, 2629 JD Delft, The Netherlands
Olof Akkerman: NoorderRuimte, Centre of Applied Research and Innovation on Area Development, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Zernikeplein 7, P.O. Box 3037, 9701 DA Groningen, The Netherlands
Fen-Yu Lin: Blue21, Molengraaffsingel 12, 2629 JD Delft, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-18

Abstract: The rapid implementation of large scale floating solar panels has consequences to water quality and local ecosystems. Environmental impacts depend on the dimensions, design and proportions of the system in relation to the size of the surface water, as well as the characteristics of the water system (currents, tidal effects) and climatic conditions. There is often no time (and budget) for thorough research into these effects on ecology and water quality. A few studies have addressed the potential impacts of floating solar panels, but often rely on models without validation with in situ data. In this work, water quality sensors continuously monitored key water quality parameters at two different locations: (i) underneath a floating solar park; (ii) at a reference location positioned in open water. An underwater drone was used to obtain vertical profiles of water quality and to collect underwater images. The results showed little differences in the measured key water quality parameters below the solar panels. The temperature at the upper layers of water was lower under the solar panels, and there were less detected temperature fluctuations. A biofouling layer on the floating structure was visible in the underwater images a few months after the construction of the park.

Keywords: environmental impacts; floating solar park/farms; FPV; water quality monitoring; climate adaptation/mitigation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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