Get Smart about Floating PhotoVoltaics

Power and Clean Water are Not Mutually Exclusive

One iteration of floating solar integration with BioHaven Floating Islands is the NanoHaven. But there are many integrations for the islands: As protective barriers (from wind and waves), as platforms, and more! The FPV market is ripe for innovation. We can develop solar projects with nutrient removal at the fore.

Today the nascent FPV (Floating PhotoVoltaics) market is confused. As China surges ahead, as France leverages the aggressive marketing efforts of Ciel et Terre (a provider of FPV), as the U.S. flounders around the remnants of “Trumpism,” remarkable opportunities to develop sustainable solar projects are being missed. Italy has actually banned development of solar floating on reservoirs…truly a remarkable and confusing policy in light of the negative impact, at least emotionally, on alternative energy development by serious players like ENEL.

Floating Island International (FII) provides hope to the market. The company was founded in 2005, and currently has over 9,000 BioHaven islands, our signature product line, launched and fixing nutrient impaired water around the globe. The islands are all about cleaning water. They employ a concentrated wetland effect, and in the process cycle nutrients that otherwise grow cyanobacteria and dangerous Harmful Algae Blooms into healthy water and fish.

A single pound of phosphorus can grow 105 pounds of northern yellow perch or 1145 pounds of filamentous algae. Which do you want in your pond?

For example, at company headquarters in Shepherd, Montana, spent nutrients are cycled into game fish in their research pond appropriately named…Fish Fry Lake. Imagine ten kids catching 634 healthy, variable age class panfish in just four hours! The transition of pollution-causing nutrients into fish is a natural byproduct of BioHaven floating islands.

The idea of fixing nutrient impaired water by launching Floating PhotoVoltaic energy farms that generate power, that pay for themselves and then some, across North America, represents a compelling vision of hope.

Bruce Kania

Fish are hyper accumulators of the nutrients that otherwise become cyanobacteria, which kills water. Fish are a natural, chemical free way to clean up and prevent cyanobacteria blooms. The opportunity to transition our sick water into incredibly productive and pristine water is in front of us right now! We can transition impaired waterways into wonderful, natural water through biomimicry, by letting nature guide us. We can have pristine water in our cities. We can re-learn how to partner with nature, instead of fighting it!

About Floating Voltaics . . .

Today in the U.S. almost half of all fresh water is nutrient impaired. This means it is poised to experience harmful algae blooms. Nutrient impaired water actually represents a bit more than half of the fresh water in the U.S., now, as compared to only 15 percent back in 1972, when the initial Clean Water Act was passed. The idea of fixing nutrient impaired water by launching Floating PhotoVoltaic energy farms that generate power, that pay for themselves and then some, across North America, represents a compelling vision of hope.

FII is an American based company that could bring the U.S. back into the solar energy market. Despite the setback of the last four years, of Trumpism, FII could get the U.S. back in the game. These are truly interesting times!

Originally published at https://www.floatingislandinternational.com on March 2, 2021.