The Application of Solar-Powered, Long-Distance Circulation for
Preventing Blue-Green Algae Blooms and Restoring Lake Ecosystems
Christopher F. Knud-Hansen, PhD, CLM
Limnologist and Certified Lake Manager
SolarBee, Inc.
11867 Bradburn Blvd.
Westminster, CO 80031 USA
Tel: 303-469-9606; Fax: 303-469-4701; E-mail: chris@solarbee.com
Amco Environmental Solutions
Dubai, UAE
Tel: 971-4-3386660; Fax: 971-4-3386661; E-Mail info@amcosolutions.com
It has been long established in the scientific literature that blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) are
negatively impacted by disrupting their favored habitat of stagnant waters. However, it has
only been since the development of the solar-powered, long-distance circulation equipment
called the SolarBee that this ecological relationship has been exploited as a practical tool for
lake management. SolarBees can move up to 40,000 liters per minute using only solar energy,
impacting up to 14 hectares lake surface area per machine. This presentation discusses
empirical evidence collected since 2000 in nearly 200 lakes in North America, including over
60 drinking water supply reservoirs, where SolarBees have been successfully deployed for
blue-green algae bloom control and other benefits, including improved water clarity, improved
oxygenation of the water column, odor control, improved fisheries, and a healthier lake
ecosystem without stagnant waters.
C. Knud-Hansen