The dark side of solar panels

Solar panels, considered one of the most effective devices for generating renewable energy may even cause the disappearance of entire communities of aquatic insects.

This is the conclusion of a study carried out by Hungarian and U.S. researchers, highlighting at least one of the problems that can lead to cleaner energy sources.

The potential loss of aquatic insects is serious, because these are the first step in the aquatic food chain. If you decrease the population of aquatic insects, fish populations and other organisms living in water will suffer.

Confusion

Aquatic insects such as ephemeral, mistake the black surface, smooth and shiny solar panels with a pond or large puddle of water.

Having spotted the "fake lake", the insects go there to breed and lay eggs, which they are not in the appropriate way, they end up dying.

"They feel so attracted by the solar panels that are unable to escape its influence," he told BBC Bruce Robertson, an ecologist from the U.S. Department of Energy of the Great Lakes in Michigan, a coauthor of the study.

This effect, by which an organism habitat prefer one good over evil, is known as ecological trap. "It's one of the most dangerous phenomena of nature," says Robertson.

The confusion occurs because both the water and the panels reflect horizontally polarized light and insects use the vibrations of these light waves to detect water.

How is it possible that once they come into contact with the solar panel does not realize that there is a lake?

"It's amazing, but true," says the researcher. "As the only natural element in the world that polarized light is water, the insects evolved in such a way that the only information that is used to recognize polarized light."

Solution in sight

To test the impact of the panels on insects researchers installed a series of panels in a wooded area dotted with lakes in Hungary.

He observed the phenomenon described above, but also, almost by chance, found how to lessen the impact.

"If you divide the panel in small portions, or you add in between white lines in a grid, the effect is much smaller. The panel continues to polarize the light, but doing it in smaller parts, not as attractive for insects, "says Robertson.

Researchers do not know exactly why: "Maybe they think they are smaller pools and they do not interest them. But the interesting thing here is that this data gives us a clue of how to eliminate this pollution, which is possible also a very low cost, "he says.

Robertson stresses the importance of taking this information into account when designing solar panels, but also emphasizes the need to further study its effect on all living organisms.

While this study reveals some of the effects that solar panels on aquatic animals, the investigator said, nothing is known about the impact it will acquire any insects or animals on land, especially in desert areas, which are the main stage most of the clean energy projects based on solar technology.