Solar farms and biodiversity

Solar farms have the potential to increase biodiversity, a Royal Holloway University of London Research Report has found. One of the report’s case studies, the Southill Energy Community Solar Farm, attained biodiversity net gains of up to 70%. Situated in in the Cotswolds National Landscape Area, the community's Solar Farm substantially surpassed the pre-existing biodiversity standards.

The report suggests enhancing the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to

• establish more explicit criteria

• increase the targets for biodiversity net gain in solar farms

• strongly recommend consultations before applications

• implement precise on-site measures such as optimising the height and spacing of panels, integrating various habitats, and reducing the effects of light

This integrated method seeks to match renewable energy goals with biodiversity conservation, and convert solar farms into multi-functional landscapes that produce clean energy while actively improving local ecosystems.

Download the full Research Report below, or see the Policy Brief and Video here.