Solar Energy and Wildlife: Solgen Power
By: Eric Huesca, SEO Content Writer
July 18, 2023
Solar energy is heralded as a vital component of our renewable energy future. Yet, its relationship with wildlife remains a nuanced interplay requiring careful balance. As the global adoption of solar energy accelerates, it’s essential to examine the impact on local ecosystems and global wildlife. In our commitment to a cleaner future, we must ensure that our methods of energy production align with the protection and preservation of biodiversity.
Buffalo grazing in solar photovoltaic area.
Understanding Solar Energy
Solar energy harnesses the power of the sun to generate electricity, providing a renewable, abundant, and carbon-free source of energy. Two primary types of solar energy technologies dominate the landscape: Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which directly convert sunlight into electricity, and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), which uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver that collects and converts the heat into electricity.
Solar farms, which can vary from small installations to expansive fields of solar panels, have become a common sight worldwide. They provide a substantial contribution to the global energy mix and play a crucial role in mitigating climate change.
Despite the obvious environmental benefits of transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like solar, these technologies are not without their environmental challenges. A crucial aspect to consider when planning and operating solar installations is their potential impact on local wildlife and ecosystems.
The Impact of Solar Energy on Wildlife
Solar energy developments can significantly impact wildlife, affecting a range of species from birds to large mammals and even insects. These impacts primarily occur during the construction phase, the operational phase, or due to habitat loss and fragmentation.
During construction, disturbances such as noise, dust, and increased human activity can temporarily or permanently displace wildlife. While these impacts are typically short-term, they can disrupt breeding cycles, feeding patterns, and migratory routes.
Once operational, solar farms can impact a wildlife refuge in several ways. For PV solar farms, one issue is the potential for bird collisions with the panels, which some species may mistake for bodies of water, a phenomenon known as the “lake effect.”
Concentrated solar power (CSP) farms have been associated with “solar flux” injuries in birds. These occur when birds fly into the areas of intense heat generated by the mirror arrays, leading to physical harm or death.
Habitat loss is another significant concern. Large solar farms require extensive land areas, and their installation can lead to the direct loss of wildlife habitats, forcing species to move and potentially leading to population declines.
However, it’s essential to put these impacts into perspective. The effects on wildlife and fisheries from solar farms are generally much less severe than those caused by fossil fuel energy sources, including climate change, air and water pollution, and habitat destruction from mining and drilling.
Strategies for Mitigating Impacts
The key to reconciling solar energy development with wildlife conservation lies in mitigating these impacts. Fortunately, there are many ways that solar developers and operators can reduce the effects on a wildlife sanctuary.
Proper site selection is the first and most effective mitigation strategy. By choosing to place solar farms on previously disturbed lands, such as abandoned agricultural lands or brownfield sites, developers can avoid disturbing pristine habitats and displacing wildlife.
Solar farm design can also play a role in mitigating impacts. For example, using anti-reflective coatings on solar panels can reduce the “lake effect” and minimize bird collisions. Similarly, the use of certain colors and patterns can make panels more visible to birds.
A growing trend in solar farm design is the concept of “agrivoltaics,” or combining solar energy production with agriculture or grazing. By allowing the land under and around solar panels to be used for growing crops or grazing livestock, solar farms can co-exist with wildlife and even provide new habitats.
Solar farms can also implement measures to protect and even enhance local biodiversity. This could include creating wildlife corridors to allow safe passage across solar farms, installing bird-safe features, and creating habitats within the solar farm, such as wildflower meadows or wetlands.
Solar Energy and Wildlife Conservation: Real-world Examples
There are numerous examples worldwide where solar energy and wildlife conservation have been successfully integrated. In the UK, solar farms have been used as a tool for biodiversity enhancement, with native plant species sown around panels to create habitats for pollinators.
In the U.S., the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has initiated the “InSPIRE” project to study how solar farms can provide environmental co-benefits, such as improved soil health, increased crop yields, and better habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.
Furthermore, some solar companies are actively working with wildlife management and organizations to develop wildlife-friendly practices. For instance, First Solar has worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop an Avian and Bat Protection Plan, which sets out best practices for reducing impacts on birds and bats at solar facilities.
Conclusion
The intricate dance between solar energy and wildlife is a testament to the complexities of our world. On one hand, we have solar energy – a beacon of hope in our fight against climate change, poised to power a sustainable future. On the other hand, we have the world’s wildlife – an irreplaceable treasure that enriches our planet with biodiversity and ecological balance.
It’s clear that our renewable energy pursuits should not come at the expense of our wildlife. The impacts of solar energy installations on local ecosystems and wildlife populations are real and warrant our attention. However, they are not insurmountable. With careful planning, innovative design, and a strong commitment to conservation, we can successfully navigate these challenges.
The key lies in thoughtful site selection, avoiding pristine habitats and preferring disturbed lands. Also, designs that reduce solar panel impacts on birds and incorporating the concept of ‘agrivoltaics’ hold much promise. Beyond these, solar farms can take a proactive role in enhancing local biodiversity. Whether it’s through the creation of wildlife corridors, implementation of bird-safe features, or fostering habitats within the farm, every effort counts.
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Solgen Power is a solar energy contractor that sells and installs solar for homeowners. Solgen Power has been recognized by INC. 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in the nation. Solgen Power has grown nationwide and continues to provide excellent customer service to homeowners.
