Ecology and biodiversity at a solar farm
When developing solar parks, people often look for dual functions of space. This makes sense, as solar parks generally take up quite a bit of space. It would be a shame not to take advantage of opportunities to create added value. One of the opportunities for double use of space is the creation of ecological added value. Certainly on intensively used agricultural plots, the decline in the insect population (and with it other plant and animal species) has been a major problem for years.
Ecologists and landscape architects
Together with ecologists and landscape architects, we investigate how the design of solar parks can contribute maximally to the creation of ecological added value. Thus, with the advice of ecologists, our solar parks are landscaped. We take local flora and fauna into account and the soil under the panels is sown with herb-rich grassland. By sustainably managing the solar parks, we expect to be able to give a boost to various local (plant) species.
At this point, it is still an expectation, because there is almost no long-term scientific research on solar park design and ecology. We think it is important that landscape designs are substantiated and carefully done. That is why we are initiating a large-scale ecological study.
The largest ecological study on solar farms in the Netherlands
Together with the University of Groningen and the Province of Groningen, Novar is facilitating a 5-year ecological study of the effects of various solar farm designs on various plants, birds, mammals, insects and soils in the Province of Groningen. To this end, 15 of our solar parks will be monitored and the research results will be published publicly. In this way, every developer of solar parks can benefit from the knowledge gained!