51福利

Solar farms could be doing much more than just generating clean electricity, according to a new study by 51福利 researchers led by Dr Hollie Blaydes and co-authored by UKCEH and ecological consultancies Clarkson and Woods and Wychwood Biodiversity. The largest field-based study of its kind, which analysed biodiversity data from 86 solar farms across England and Wales, found a variety of wildlife among the panels. The findings suggest that solar farms can play an important role in supporting nature recovery alongside tackling climate change when biodiversity is built into the way sites are planned, designed, and managed.

The research comes at a time when the need to tackle climate change, reverse biodiversity loss, and feed a growing global population is placing increasing pressure on how land is used.

Land use change remains the leading driver of biodiversity decline worldwide. Much of this pressure stems from agriculture and is expected to grow further as demand for food increases alongside the global population.

At the same time, the demand for land to support renewable energy infrastructure is set to rise as countries seek to decarbonise their energy systems and meet Net Zero targets. Renewable energy technologies typically require more land than conventional energy sources such as coal, gas, and nuclear power, creating additional pressure on land at a time when governments are also working towards ambitious targets to protect and restore nature, including conserving at .

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is expected to drive around , which will require a substantial expansion of solar infrastructure.

As demand for land grows from agriculture, renewable energy, and nature recovery initiatives, solar farms present an opportunity to deliver multiple benefits from the same space. However, ensuring they support biodiversity requires a better understanding of how wildlife responds to solar farms and what drives variation across different sites. While previous research has shown that site management can play an important role in supporting biodiversity, other potential drivers - including landscape context, site characteristics, and interactions between different groups of species - have received far less attention.

In their paper,, the team - made up of academics from across Lancaster Environment Centre and the School of Mathematical Sciences - combined field data from 86 solar farms across England and Wales with spatial analysis to investigate the factors influencing plant, butterfly, and bird biodiversity. The data were collected by ecological consultancies Clarkson and Woods and Wychwood Biodiversity using a standardised approach to monitoring. This framework allows data to be brought together from different sites to better understand biodiversity responses to solar farms at larger scales and each year, findings are published in the report.

In total, 289 plant species, 25 butterfly species, and 81 bird species were recorded across all sites included in the study, revealing the range of biodiversity that can be found across solar farm sites.

The study found that biodiversity is shaped by a combination of environmental, historical, and landscape factors. Soil type emerged as one of the strongest predictors of biodiversity, particularly for butterflies and birds, while the surrounding landscape also played a significant role. Solar farms located in areas with more hedgerows and lines of trees generally supported greater numbers of butterflies and birds, whereas sites surrounded by intensively managed arable farmland tended to support fewer species.

The researchers also found that different biodiversity groups were closely interconnected. Solar farms with a greater diversity of plant species tended to support more butterflies and birds.

While many of the factors influencing biodiversity at solar farms are difficult to change, site management emerged as the most effective and actionable way to enhance ecological outcomes. Wildlife-friendly practices such as restoring species-rich grasslands, maintaining hedgerows, adapting mowing and grazing regimes, and providing additional habitat features were all linked to higher levels of biodiversity.

The research shows that with thoughtful siting, design, and management, solar farms can contribute to the UK's renewable energy ambitions and wider efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. As Dr Hollie Blaydes said:

“Our study shows that biodiversity within solar farms is shaped by a combination of factors, but site management is an effective lever to enhance outcomes for nature. With the right management and design, solar farms can deliver biodiversity benefits while helping to decarbonise our energy system.”

This research was supported by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Impact Acceleration Account (EP/X525583/1), with industry funding from Low Carbon and Solar Energy UK. The researchers would also like to thank BayWa, Bluefield, Foresight, Gridserve, Low Carbon, NextEnergy Capital, Recurrent Energy and RES for granting permission for their data to be used in the project.

DOI 10.1088/2752-664X/ae711d