Study guides floating solar to protect waterbirds

A new study identifies key considerations for the growing floating solar energy industry to minimize negative impacts on waterbirds and promote biodiversity. The research aims to balance clean energy production with environmental conservation. Researchers are examining how floating solar projects, or "floatovoltaics," impact waterbirds, focusing on interactions with infrastructure and potential for conservation strategies. They've observed diverse bird behaviors around these systems, highlighting the need for further study. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the risks and benefits of floating solar, as the technology expands, to ensure coexistence between renewable energy and wildlife. The research team is actively working to answer questions about the interaction.