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The article mentions that the water helps regulate the solar array temperature, ostensibly because the water is used as a heat sink. Does the thermal equation e
by zucked 4y ago
The article mentions that the water helps regulate the solar array temperature, ostensibly because the water is used as a heat sink. Does the thermal equation even out such that the body of water temperature is not dramatically impacted?
Example:
If the solar panels are absorbing sunlight before it can reach the water, the water would be colder. But, if the solar panels are using the water as a heat sink/cooler, the water temp could be brought up in temperature.
And what about the blockage of the light? That will inhibit growth of algae and plants underwater.
I can see how this might be super useful for man-made bodies of water (for drinking, runoff, etc) but it seems it might be a bit impactful on natural bodies of water.
- ZeroGravitas 4y agoBlockage of the light can be a positive. Some locations use floating black plastic spheres to achieve this goal.
- euroderf 4y agoWouldn't floating white spheres make more sense ? If the goal is to avoid overly warm mater.
- weberer 4y agoWhite would reflect more, but also allow light to pass through. The goal of these are to completely block light to prevent algae growth.
- Tyrannosaur 4y agohttps://youtu.be/uxPdPpi5W4o?t=403 https://youtu.be/uxPdPpi5W4o?t=403 Veritasium video about Los Angeles' reservoir black spheres project. They used black because - The goal was light-blocking more than anything else; black worked best - The black pigment held up to the environment (especially UV degradation) better than anything else they tried I expect the second point was the most important thing. Black plastic is very stable.
- zucked 4y agoIndeed - and it can help reduce evaporation, too. It's just that in some instances, some algae growth and some evaporation might be desirable.
- pencilguin 4y agoNo solar installation will block all of the light. Gaps between panels or rows may provide as much light as could be desired. Note, most aquatic wildlife benefits from shade, even where they depend on an algae-rooted food chain.
- dredmorbius 4y agoVeritasium's Derek Muller did an episode on this three years ago: <https://yewtu.be/watch?v=uxPdPpi5W4o https://yewtu.be/watch?v=uxPdPpi5W4o>
- drtgh 4y agoWhen I read the article I was only able to think in the damage to the underwater ecosystem by sun blocking, plus micro-plastics ( trophic chain, endocrine system damage) and chemicals from plastics degradation.