Carbon dioxide reductions using floating photovoltaic electricity generation in The Bahamas

To avoid large ecological and economic costs for photovoltaic plants, floating photovoltaics (FPVs) are considered on inland waterbodies in The Bahamas. Their potential to reduce carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂ e) emissions are investigated as national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are due largely to fossil fuel-fed thermal power plants. Using publicly available carbon emissions, 2022 census, and energy use per capita data alongside Global Solar Atlas-based FPV simulations, results illustrated that FPV arrays on 30% of the area of selected waterbodies on Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Long Island, Cat Island, San Salvador, Crooked Island and Acklins, and Rum Cay lead to negative total CO₂ e emissions while the islands of Abaco, Andros, Exuma and New Providence remain positive. Ideally, if FPVs are used rather than thermoelectric plants, over 93% of CO₂ e emissions could be avoided, thereby reducing The Bahamas’ already minute contribution to global emissions. When FPVs are incorporated into energy generation capacity, economic activity may continue for CO₂ e negative islands that are largely decoupled from CO₂ e emissions. Additional strategies are required to achieve this for CO₂ e positive islands. It is hypothesized that FPVs may allow for economic growth without corresponding GHG emission increases.