Can solar projects improve biodiversity?
Yes.
Solar projects do not inherently reduce biodiversity, and when designed with best practices, they can sustain or even increase local wildlife and plant diversity.
Impacts depend on where and how projects are built.
Siting solar on already developed land and minimizing soil disturbance can maintain habitats and support more diverse vegetation, insects, and birds. Solar farms can create “microclimates” where shade under panels reduces soil moisture loss and encourages plant growth. This may be especially valuable in regions currently experiencing hotter, drier conditions.
Developers can further reduce harm by avoiding bulldozing, leaving habitat patches, and building wildlife corridors within a site. Construction timing can also be adjusted to avoid sensitive periods such as breeding or migration.
After installation, habitat restoration efforts like planting native flowering species can boost floral diversity and pollinator populations, benefiting overall ecosystems and human agriculture.
This Fact Brief was written by Sue Bin Park and published by our Gigafact partner, Skeptical Science. See a full discussion of this at Skeptical Science.
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Sources
- Clarkson & Woods and Wychwood Biodiversity THE EFFECTS OF SOLAR FARMS ON LOCAL BIODIVERSITY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY
- International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Mitigating biodiversity impacts associated with solar and wind energy development
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Pollinator Habitat Planting: CP42
- U.S. Department of Energy Buzzing Around Solar: Pollinator Habitat Under Solar Arrays
- Columbia Law School Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles
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