AndreeJan 13, 2023
Mark Ruffalo

“The floatovoltaic industry is poised to expand rapidly. Science and policy must move equally fast to ensure that this use of the world’s reservoirs is sustainable & equitable.”

Some valuable insight to consider today as we fight to end fossil fuel use.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01525-1?utm_source=Nature+Briefing&utm_campaign=880196f532-briefing-dy-20230105&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c9dfd39373-880196f532-47563632

Floating solar power could help fight climate change — let’s get it right

Covering 10% of the world’s hydropower reservoirs with ‘floatovoltaics’ would install as much electrical capacity as is currently available for fossil-fuel power plants. But the environmental and social impacts must be assessed.

Jan 13, 2023 at 6:03pmWeb
Show threadSean Eric FaganJan 13, 2023
@MarkRuffalo Blocking that much sunlight concerns me a lot...
Show threadDrooling Fan GirlJan 14, 2023
@kithrup @MarkRuffalo even in deep water that doesn’t have sea grass or seaweed, there’s phytoplankton.
Show threadGary E. WalkerJan 13, 2023
@MarkRuffalo the fundamental problem is that the places people want to do this have large sunlight-dependent ecosystems.
Show threadGary E. WalkerJan 13, 2023
@MarkRuffalo to be clear, this is why PV really belongs in orbit.
Show threadScottinSoCal 🇺🇦 🕊 🏳‍🌈Jan 13, 2023
@MarkRuffalo
I have so many questions about that article.
"But for some projects, so much methane — a potent greenhouse gas — is released from decaying submerged plant matter that they can emit as much carbon per unit energy as do fossil-fuel power plants."
Yes, methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, but short-lived in the atmosphere. It breaks down relatively quickly.
Sunlight powers plant growth in the water, filtering pollutants. What are the effects of reducing plants?
Show threadScoobaJan 13, 2023
@MarkRuffalo We do need sustainable energy. But how would you design a system like this in a very corrosive environment, if it's in any salt water (most open water is sea water). I think offshore wind would be less problematic.
Show threadComputeforloot Jan 13, 2023
@MarkRuffalo wow, interesting
Show threadCykonotJan 13, 2023

@MarkRuffalo what about algae and oxygen

Looking forward to thorium, smr, and fusion

Show threadmidwesterner 🦬Jan 14, 2023

@MarkRuffalo

Parking lots
Roof tops
Near roads
Any place where shade from sun is welcomed

Show threadmmalcJan 14, 2023

@MarkRuffalo

Certainly add floatovoltaic to the mix where appropriate, but agrovoltaic and just rooftops and parking lots provide a wealth of space too.

“Land is at a premium” is to a first approximation a myth.

I superimposed the area required to power the US with PV on a map of general land use, with a deliberately easy comparison with the surface area of rural highways…

#FloatoVoltaic
#AgroVoltaic
#SolarPanels
#PV
#LandUse
#AllOfTheAbove

Show threadD-Love Jan 14, 2023
@MarkRuffalo That is awesome!