Immediate Effect\nof Floating Solar Energy Deployment\non Greenhouse Gas Dynamics in Ponds

Floating photovoltaic (FPV) solar energy offers promise\nfor renewable\nelectricity production that spares land for other societal benefits.\nFPV deployment may alter greenhouse gas (GHG) production and emissions\nfrom waterbodies by changing physical, chemical, and biological processes,\nwhich can have implications for the carbon cost of energy production\nwith FPV. Here, we use an ecosystem-scale experiment to assess how\nGHG dynamics in ponds respond to installation of operationally representative\nFPV. Following FPV deployments of 70% array coverage, daily whole-pond\nGHG emissions increased by 26.8% on a carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO<sub>2</sub>-eq) basis, and dissolved oxygen availability rapidly decreased.\nDespite increased emissions following FPV deployment, FPV-derived\nGHG emissions from waterbodies are likely lower than landscape GHG\nemissions associated with terrestrial solar and hydropower production\non a CO<sub>2</sub>-eq kWh<sup>–1</sup> basis. Adaptive management\nstrategies like bubbler installation may reduce the magnitude of FPV\nimpacts on GHG and dissolved oxygen dynamics.