A publication in the “Comprendre Pour Agir” collection by the OFB has just been released. It presents the French version of a scientific review article summarizing the current state of knowledge on the potential ecological impacts of deploying floating photovoltaic systems on water bodies. The original article was published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. The document is the result of a research project funded by the OFB (through the Pôle R&D ECLA) and ADEME between 2020 and 2024.

The reader will find an overview of the potential alterations to the functioning of aquatic ecosystems caused by the partial or complete coverage of the water surface with solar panels. This synthesis focuses primarily on the consequences of such deployment on incident light, wind, and temperature, factors that drive the physical functioning of lakes and reservoirs, and the subsequent effects of these physical changes on biogeochemical processes and aquatic biological communities.

This document serves as a valuable resource for understanding the ecological challenges associated with the development of this emerging technology.

You can access the publication in French here.
You can access the original article in English here.