Impact of floating photovoltaics on the inland aquatic ecosystem

Research on the environmental impact of floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems is still in its early stages. Given the limited number of fully commercial FPV plants installed to date, the small magnitude of accompanying research on environmental impact is understandable. In this chapter we present a review of the available research together with unique long-term monitoring records from FPV sites, including data on oxygen levels, temperature, light availability, and chlorophyll-a. It is important to acknowledge that initial studies do not allow to draw far-reaching conclusions. However, new insights have been gained, leading to preliminary conclusions specific to the context of a sandpit lake and recommendations for the future development of FPV. We conclude the chapter by highlighting several knowledge gaps that need to be addressed by researchers in collaboration with the industry.