Renewable energies and lake ecosystems : potential ecological hazards of the deployment of floating photovoltaic power plants
References
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Abstract
A supportive regulatory framework (the 2019 Energy and Climate Law, the 2023 APER law, and the Multiannual Energy Program—PPE) aimed at achieving carbon neutrality targets is promoting the deployment of floating photovoltaic (FPV) installations. However, scientific knowledge of their ecological impacts remains limited. The ECLA R&D Unit (Lake Ecosystems Research and Development Unit), through several projects (SOLAKE, FLOATIX, SOLFLUX), is contributing to the study of FPV effects on water bodies. This research seeks to assess impacts on physical factors as well as on biodiversity and the ecological functioning of aquatic systems. Initial results indicate an average annual temperature decrease of 1.2 °C and effects on diatom communities. Data acquisition remains limited due to the small number of facilities currently in operation. Ongoing work will ultimately help inform public decision-making and optimize the design of FPV installations to minimize their impacts on aquatic ecosystems, while supporting the energy transition.