Risultati di ricerca
Rafael Schmitt. Rafael’s (he/him) research is on catchment-scale modelling of hydrologic and sediment transport processes and their integration in decision making processes. In the freshwater and terrestrial ecosystem team, Rafael works on designing catchment interventions for better hydropower outcomes in the Himalayas and on quantifying the ...
- Rafael Schmitt | FSI - Stanford University
Biography. Rafael Schmitt is a Lead Scientist at the Natural...
- Rafael Schmitt | FSI - Stanford University
31 mar 2021 · Stanford Natural Capital Project hydrologist Rafael Schmitt has won the 2021 Aspen Institute Italia Award for collaboration and scientific research between Italy and the United States. Schmitt will receive the award alongside his co-authors on a 2018 study in Nature Sustainability , which focuses on strategic ways to plan and build ...
Rafael Schmitt currently works at the Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, as lead hydrologist and geomorphologist for the Natural Capital Project. Rafael's research is on...
- Location, Location
- National Potential
- Environmental Impacts
- Use Conflicts
- Operational Challenges
- Moving Forwards
Solar power is space-intensive, requiring at least 20 times more area than conventional fossil-fuel plants to produce one gigawatt (GW) of electricity3. Several environments have been proposed as locations for extensive installations, each with pros and cons. Deserts have ample sunshine and don’t have much competition for land use. But even here, t...
To explore the potential of floatovoltaics, we compared the solar-power potential of large reservoirs with projected national demand for extra solar energy by 2050 (see ‘Floatovoltaic potential’ and Supplementary information). We found that countries in the Americas and Africa could benefit most: even low coverage of reservoirs by floatovoltaics sh...
Climate change is warming water bodies around the world, with impacts such as harmful algal blooms15. Modellers have looked at whether floatovoltaics might counter these effects in lakes and other reservoirs, and found that they can, but only when more than half of the water surface is covered16. More needs to be learnt about the consequences for p...
Societal uses of reservoirs might also be compromised by floatovoltaics. If a project interferes with a fishery, it could undermine the livelihoods of populations already affected by reservoir construction. For example, Lake Kariba, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, is home to the world’s most productive reservoir fishery, and the artisana...
Technical challenges could increase costs for developers. Biofouling of panels by bird faeces and microbial biofilms is likely to be more problematic over water than land, and could reduce photovoltaic output. Frequent cleaning might be necessary, requiring easy and safe access to the panels. Inclement weather is another factor. At high latitudes, ...
Beyond modelling, empirical field-based studies are needed. It is unrealistic to suppose that power companies would do all of this work themselves. Licensing agreements should require access for independent researchers and long-term monitoring. The sharing of lessons will be paramount as the industry and regulators refine guidance on best practices...
8 giu 2021 · Rafael Schmitt is a hydrologist at the Natural Capital Project, where he’s focused much of his work on strategic hydropower planning in the Greater Mekong region, home to the Mekong River, which is shared between China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The region also includes Myanmar’s Chindwin and Irrawaddy rivers.
Natural Capital Project. School: Humanities & Sciences. Rafael Schmitt is a postdoctoral fellow at the Natural Capital project and the Woods Institute for the Environment. Rafael’s research regards modeling and managing water, energy, and ecosystem services provided by the world’s large rivers.
