Scientists are calling for policy changes to increase biodiversity on UK solar farms
Solar farms in Britain have the potential to benefit nature while providing low-carbon energy, but scientists say current policies could squander these opportunities.
A team of researchers and industry experts highlighted in a new paper published in the British Ecological Society’s Journal of Applied Ecology that solar farms can create vital wildlife habitats if located, built and managed correctly. They argue that policy changes are needed to fully realize these benefits.
Currently, UK solar farms produce around 8.6 GW, enough to meet around a sixth of the country’s peak electricity demand. To meet international climate commitments, some estimates suggest that Britain will need to develop around 70,000 hectares of solar farms by the mid-2030s.
“If placed in the right places and managed correctly, solar farms have great potential to restore degraded habitats and help meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, although not every species benefits,” says Professor Alona Armstrong of Lancaster University. and co-author of the article. “Some in the solar industry are integrating the benefits of nature into solar farm design and management, but this approach is not universal.”
Professor Piran White from the University of York and co-author of the paper added: “There is significant potential for more solar farms to be managed for the benefit of nature, so that existing solar farms and any new solar farms, such as those recently approved by the new government, can contribute to alleviating the ecological and climate crisis.”
Previous research by some of the scientists behind the paper has shown that pollinating insects can benefit from solar farms managed for biodiversity, and these benefits can also extend to surrounding areas if the crops rely on pollinators.
However, current policies could see Britain miss out on the biodiversity benefits of solar farms, as public financial incentives to boost biodiversity on farmland do not currently include solar farms. Furthermore, there is potential to encourage private financing to support biodiversity on solar farms.
“Renewable energy, together with strategic land use and management, is essential to tackle the climate and nature crises,” said Hing Kin Lee, of NextEnergy Capital and co-author of the article. “The right cross-sector policies and incentives can improve nature on solar farms, delivering stable returns and measurable environmental benefits in the long term.”
The authors of the article call on the government to identify opportunities to review policies that currently address climate and biodiversity separately.
Dr. Fabio Carvalho, a Senior Research Associate at Lancaster University and lead author of the paper, said: “To deliver dual benefits for the climate and nature, solar farms must not only be well managed, but also supported by appropriate government policies. that take a more coherent, joint approach.
“Unless policies aimed at boosting biodiversity on agricultural land include solar farms, we risk missing opportunities to improve nature through land use change for solar farms, and perhaps even worsen the biodiversity crisis if solar farms are not properly are built and managed.”
Research report:Integrated policymaking is needed to achieve climate and ecological benefits from solar farms
