Can solar parks contribute to biodiversity?   

Solar parks and biodiversity. At first glance, that doesn’t sound like a logical combination. Yet in practice, we see that solar parks – when designed intelligently – can actually contribute to biodiversity.  

The choices you make in the design, management, and layout of a solar park can even improve the natural quality of an area. We’d be happy to tell you more about the opportunities we see in different landscapes and why biodiversity plays such an important role in them.   

What is biodiversity?  

When we talk about biodiversity, it’s not just about ‘more greenery’. Biodiversity is about the variety of plants, animals, insects, and soil life. Together, they form ecosystems that are in balance and can adapt to change.  

Biodiversity is important. Healthy ecosystems ensure, for example, pollination, fertile soils, water storage and a landscape that is more resilient to drought or extreme weather conditions.  

So it’s not just about how much nature is present in a given area, but also about how varied and resilient a landscape is.  

From agricultural landscape to biodiverse landscape

Many of the sites on which we develop solar parks are intensively farmed agricultural landscapes. Think of land that has been intensively cultivated for years, where there is little variation in vegetation and where biodiversity is often under pressure. The landscape often consists of a lot of the same thing: few hiding places and food sources, and consequently less space for insects, birds and soil life. It is precisely by developing a solar farm on such an agricultural landscape that we can make a difference.

For us, developing a solar park is therefore not just about installing as many panels as possible or achieving the highest energy yield. Whilst this is obviously important, we also take the surrounding environment into account right from the start of the design process.

Solar parks that contribute to nature

We design solar parks that contribute to biodiversity and a more resilient landscape. This starts with smart choices in design and management. We lay out sites in such a way that plants, insects and animals are given more space. Think of herb-rich grassland beneath and between the panels, natural transitions in the landscape, and management practices that help restore soil life.

What this looks like varies from place to place. What works on Dutch farmland does not automatically work in a Swedish production forest or on French farmland. That is why we reassess the environment and the characteristics of the area for each project. In this way, we design solar parks that blend into the landscape and deliver more than just sustainable energy.

An example of how solar parks can enhance biodiversity

A good example can be seen in the Hallandsboda energy project. Here, we are developing a solar farm with battery storage in an area that was previously a commercial forest. Large parts of the Swedish landscape are dedicated to timber production. These forests are highly productive, but the natural environment there often consists of a lot of the same thing and offers little variation. We see this as a great opportunity for biodiversity.

In a commercial forest, trees are felled for timber production. After such felling, an open and relatively monotonous landscape often emerges, with little natural diversity. In such areas, we at Novar can restore greater diversity to the natural environment and habitats.

In Sweden, we are combining a solar park with nature conservation. We are deliberately designing the area to give biodiversity more space. We keep a safe distance from the habitats of bats and amphibians and preserve natural features. We leave dead wood in place to serve as a habitat for insects and small animals. We also position fencing in such a way that smaller animals can continue to move freely through the area.

In addition, we are restoring greater diversity to the landscape. This includes natural transitions, different types of vegetation and more space for plants and animals. Whereas the area previously served mainly for timber production, it will soon become a landscape where sustainable energy and biodiversity go hand in hand.

A fine example of how a solar park not only generates energy but can also boost biodiversity.

Making biodiversity measurable

In practice, we see that solar parks can enhance biodiversity. At the same time, we want to make these effects measurable. Together with the University of Groningen and the Province of Groningen, we are conducting a five-year study into the ecological effects of solar parks. At fifteen solar parks, we are investigating, amongst other things, soil quality, plants, birds, insects and mammals. In this way, we are gaining a better understanding of which design and management choices really make a difference.

The initial results are therefore positive. Researchers have observed that ecologically designed solar parks provide habitats for species that are less common on intensively farmed and industrial land. New ecosystems are also emerging, with their own balance between plants, insects and animals. At the same time, the research shows that biodiversity does not arise spontaneously. It requires conscious choices in design, layout and management.

Building for the long term

A solar farm is not a temporary fixture. It becomes part of the landscape for decades to come.

That is why, right from the first sketch, we look beyond simply generating energy. We consider biodiversity, soil quality and how a project fits into its surroundings. We do this in collaboration with landowners, ecologists, local authorities and local residents. It is not just about generating sustainable energy.

We build solar parks that also add value to the location where we build. In this way, we create space for sustainable energy and a stronger, more biodiverse landscape.