The research will take place over six years to study the impact before, during and after development. Image: Solar Energy UK.

Utility EDF Renewables and environmental management consultancy Nature Positive have partnered with Exeter University to conduct research on the ecological effects of solar farms.

Focusing on EDF’s upcoming Longfield Solar Farm project, researchers from the University of Exeter’s Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) will examine the effects large-scale solar farms can have on soil health, fauna, wildlife habitats and carbon flux. An experimental area of 50 hectares on the site will allow researchers to test different management regimes and compare their results with undeveloped agricultural land. The research programme is set to begin later this year and will span across six years to allow part-time PhD researchers to take measures before, during and after development.

Findings from this research project will influence future ecological initiatives at Longfield Solar Farm, a 350-400MW solar farm with co-located battery storage expected to begin main construction next year.

Announcing the partnership, Matthew Boulton, director of solar, storage and private wire at EDF Renewables UK said: “This research is critical to our commitment to balancing the creation of renewable energy with the protection of our important green spaces and we are thrilled to be partnering with the University of Exeter to make it happen. Having robust data will be invaluable for measuring the tried and tested biodiversity improvements we already make, while also informing future decision-making to maximise biodiversity improvements on each of our solar farms.”

Jon Bennie, director of education and student experience at Exeter University added: “If managed appropriately, solar farms present significant opportunities to provide habitat for wildlife, enhance biodiversity and maintain healthy soils and ecosystems. This long-term piece of research will allow us to study the potential benefits and challenges involved in the construction and operation of solar farms, helping to inform management decisions to maximise these environmental gains and minimise potential risks.”

Mark Lang from Nature Positive noted: “Whilst solar farms have become increasingly important in meeting the national need for renewable energy, the potential benefits they can have in improving biodiversity and providing other ecosystem services have to date been poorly understood. It is hoped the research will contribute to the collective understanding of how solar farms can be effectively managed to enhance biodiversity, influencing current best practice in the rapidly growing solar industry.”

Biodiversity on solar farms: a growing research focus

Research into the impact solar farms can have on local biodiversity has been on the rise in recent months.

A study by Lancaster University PhD researcher Hollie Blaydes, supported by Solar Energy UK, recently called solar farms “havens for biodiversity” and noted that they could play an “important role” in nature restoration. The study reported sightings of numerous vulnerable and red-listed species, including yellowhammers, linnets, starlings, and brown hares, across 87 solar farms.

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