The NWO Executive Board has awarded over 2.8 million euros to a consortium that will investigate the use of floating solar panels. The consortium of scientists, public and private partners aims to establish the technological, ecological, and social conditions under which floating solar energy has a sustainable future for people and nature in different landscapes. The main applicant for the consortium is dr. Sven Teurlincx (NIOO-KNAW). From the University of Twente, prof. Lisette de Senerpont Domis and dr. Suhyb Salama are active in the consortium. The NWO website describes the full list of the consortium and the partners.
The use of solar energy is essential for the energy transition, otherwise the Netherlands will not be able to achieve its ambitions under the Paris Climate Agreement. To spare scarce space on land, that could be used for agriculture or housing, deployment of solar panels on water is being considered. The environmental effects of floating solar panels have not yet been fully mapped, which is a concern in society. Policy and legislation in this area are still in development.
Sparkles
In the consortium ('SPARKLES'), energy science, ecology and public administration are working together to remove obstacles that currently still stand in the way of responsible scaling-up of solar panels. This forms the basis of an important social breakthrough: after all, space in the Netherlands is scarce and calls for synergy in energy generation that also provides ecosystem benefits for people and nature. To achieve this breakthrough, SPARKLES combines integrative knowledge generation and effective transdisciplinary (science together with public and private partners) collaboration. It also pursues a blueprint for education of the current and next generation of environmental and energy professionals.
Solar systems are implemented at an increasingly large scale to meet demands for sustainable energy, including placing them on inland waters. SPARKLES unites scientists and stakeholders across domains (energy, ecology, society) to develop nature-positive solutions for floating solar for humans and nature. By putting nature front and center we look for integrative solutions that solve multiple problems in the living environment, rather than creating trade-offs between humans and nature.
More information
This call falls under the scope of the Dutch Research Agenda in the Netherlands. NWO implements the NWA on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW). The aim of the NWA is to use knowledge to make a positive, structural contribution to tomorrow's society, by building bridges today and working together to achieve scientific breakthroughs and societal impact. Please visit the article on nwo.nl for more information.
