Are solar projects harming biodiversity?

What the science says...

The impact of solar development on biodiversity depends on-site specific conditions, such as the local ecosystem, the existing land use, the density of development, and the management practices employed at the site. When applying best practices for project design, including by incorporating pollinator habitat and minimizing soil disturbance, large-scale solar farms on previously developed land, including farmland, can sustain and even increase local biodiversity (Sinha et al. 2018). While developing solar projects on previously undeveloped land may contribute to habitat loss and degradation, as well as negative impacts to local biodiversity, these impacts can be mitigated by avoiding bulldozing and by creating wildlife corridors and habitat patches inside the footprint of the facility where soil and vegetation is not disturbed (Grodsky et al. 2021, Suuronen et al. 2017, Sawyer et al. 2022).

Microclimates within solar farms can enhance botanical diversity, which, in turn can enhance the diversity of the site’s invertebrate and bird populations. In addition, the shade under solar panels can offer critical habitat for a wide range of species, including endangered species¹ (also Graham et al. 2021). Shady patches likewise prevent soil moisture loss, boosting plant growth and diversity, particularly in areas impacted by climate extremes (Barron-Gafford et al. 2019).

Proactive measures taken before and after a solar farm’s construction can further enhance biodiversity. Prior to installation, developers can mitigate adverse impacts by examining native species’ feeding, mating and migratory patterns and ensuring that solar projects are not sited in sensitive locations or constructed at sensitive times². For example, developers can schedule construction to coincide with indigenous reptiles’ and amphibians’ hibernation periods, while avoiding breeding periods.

Additionally, developers can invest in habitat restoration once solar projects have been installed, such as by replanting indigenous flowering species that provide nectar to insects, which also benefits mammals and ground nesting birds. A recent study on the impact of newly-established insect habitat on solar farms in agricultural landscapes found increases in floral abundance, flowering plant species richness, insect group diversity, native bee abundance, and total insect abundance (Walston et al. 2023).

Pollinators play a crucial role in U.S. farming, with more than one third of crop production reliant on pollinators³. Bee populations alone contribute an estimated $20 billion annually to U.S. agriculture production and up to $217 billion worldwide. Recognizing these important contributions, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Technologies Office is currently funding or tracking numerous studies that seek to maximize solar farms’ positive impacts on pollinator-friendly plants⁴.

Footnotes:

[1] Hannah Montag et al., The effects of solar farms on local biodiversity at 34 (Apr. 2016)

[2] The Biodiversity Consultancy, Mitigating biodiversity impacts associated with solar and wind energy development, IUCN (2021), 12

[3] Pollinator Habitat Planting: CP42, U.S. Dep’t Agriculture (last visited March 25, 2024).

[4] Buzzing Around Solar: Pollinator Habitat Under Solar Arrays, U.S. Dep’t Energy (Jun. 21, 2022)

This rebuttal is based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School in 2024. Skeptical Science sincerely appreciates Sabin Center's generosity in collaborating with us to make this information available as widely as possible.

Last updated on 26 October 2024 by Sabin Center Team. View Archives