Work

Impacts of nearshore photovoltaic installation on mariculture and navigation based on the MIKE21 hydrodynamic model

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The construction and operation of near-shore photovoltaic (PV) power stations could impact the marine environment and adjacent development activities. Effective preventive and control measures could mitigate such impacts to protect the marine ecology and promote sustainable development. The numerical MIKE21 model offers a reliable analysis of surface water and sediment flow, pertinent for validating actual water conditions, calculating hydrological changes and predicting future trends. This study investigated the type and magnitude of impacts induced by near-shore photovoltaic construction on adjacent development activities. The MIKE21FM model explored the three-dimensional effects of near-shore PV installation on nearby mariculture and waterway navigation. The findings indicated that during the construction and removal of the near-shore cofferdams, the area with the highest full-tide suspended sand diffusion concentration of 10−20 mg/L slightly affected the nearby mariculture area. The final siltation of the project, much less than 0.3 m due to scouring by the incoming water from the land area, would not affect the breeding intakes and outlets. Furthermore, under proper construction management measures and tailor-made non-conventional techniques, PV installation would not destabilize nearby mariculture areas, ports, or waterway navigation. This study provides a reference for analysing the environmental impacts of marine PV and adopting mitigation measures.

Source: Journal of Sea Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.seares.2025.102651