Special Issue on "Ecological, evolutionary and environmental implications of floating photovoltaics (floatovoltaics) on freshwater ecosystems"

Guest Editors

Julien Cucherousset - CNRS, France (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

Regina Nobre - University Toulouse III, France (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

Andrew Folkard - Lancaster University, United Kingdom (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

Alona Armstrong - Lancaster University, United Kingdom (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

Description

Freshwater biodiversity and ecosystems are facing multiple human-induced pressures and, during the last decade, photovoltaic panels installed atop freshwater ecosystems (floatovoltaics), have emerged as a promising new technology to limit greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonize the energy sector. However, the rapid transition to low carbon energy solutions may induce unforeseen environmental impacts. While floating photovoltaics hold potential as a renewable energy solution, they might introduce new challenges to freshwater ecosystems. Alternatively, they may present a means of alleviating climate change-induced effects. Our limited knowledge about the potential consequences (positive or negative) of this novel technology on freshwater ecosystems highlights the need for comprehensive research to ensure that the economic and energetic benefits of floating photovoltaics do not compromise, but ideally enhance, freshwater biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and associated ecosystem services.

This special issue aims to address this knowledge gap by promoting studies that assess the ecological, evolutionary and environmental implications of floating photovoltaics and their implications on:

  • Freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
  • Environmental parameters
  • Evolutionary processes
  • Ecosystem services

Given the novelty of this topic, we welcome all forms of contributions (field observation, experimentation, modelling, review, opinions). We also encourage submission of studies related to the mitigation of potential impacts and those that integrate environmental outcomes with other aspects of floating photovoltaic implications.

Important deadlines

Manuscript proposal submission (500 words): 15 May 2024 – This short abstract should be sent directly to the Guest Editors

Invitation for full manuscript submission: 01 June 2024

Full manuscript submission deadline: 15 September 2024

Anticipate publication: on a continuous-flow basis from end of 2024 to mid 2025

Submission instructions

KMAE is an open access Journal with no fee payable by authors or readers.

For further information on KMAE, please see kmae-journal.org

Please read the Guide for Authors before submitting.

Full manuscript submission should be made via the online editorial system.

Additional information: Please contact the Guest Editors This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.