Common Pipistrelle. Credit: Daniel Whitby
The activity level of six bat species was
significantly reduced at solar farm sites, researchers have observed.
Their findings, published today in Journal of Applied Ecology, have
the potential to impact and inform planning legislation and policy so
that the benefits of solar power are reaped without impacting
wildlife.
Renewable technologies are important in meeting energy demands
sustainably. This is of vital importance given the roles of fossil
fuels in producing carbon dioxide, a key driver of climate change.
Renewable energy is growing at a rapid pace globally, with solar
photovoltaic power providing about 30% of global renewable power, and
having increased in amount by 25% in 2021.
Lead author Lizy Tinsley from the University of Bristol's School of
Biological Sciences explained, "Renewable energies can have negative
impacts on biodiversity and mitigation is essential to provide win-win
solutions for energy suppliers and for wildlife."
To carry out their experiment, the team set up bat static monitoring
equipment in a solar farm field, and a matched field without solar
panels (control site).
Fields were matched in size, land use, and boundary feature (e.g.
hedge, fence, stream), and a bat detector was placed in the middle and
edge of both fields, totaling four recording locations, repeated
across 19 separate sites. Field boundaries were selected as they are
important navigation features for bats.
The data from the different echolocation calls at recording points
were then analyzed to identify the bat species and number of bat
passes. They found that the activity level of common pipistrelle,
noctule, myotis species, serotine, soprano pipistrelle and long-eared
species was substantially lower at solar farm sites, compared to the
paired control sites.
Illustration showing effect of solar farming on
bat activity. Credit: Lizy Tinsley
Lizy said, "Due to the significant negative
impact identified, solar farm developments should be screened in an
Environmental Impact Assessment for ecological impacts so that
appropriate mitigation be designed against the impacts, and monitoring
undertaken. This has already been done with wind farms—where mortality
of bats has been reduced by changing the wind speeds at which turbines
become operational and by using acoustic deterrents, at minimal cost.
"Further research is required to assess bat behavior at solar farms,
and why it is causing the significant decrease of certain species at
the site. Is it the loss of suitable habitat that reduces activity?
Are they fewer insect prey available, and are bats at risk of
collisions with panels?
"It will be important to identify mitigation strategies that can
benefit bats at solar farms, such as planting insect-friendly plants,
providing corridors to insect-rich habitats, or providing suitable
alternative foraging habitats such as trees. Mitigation strategies can
potentially mean that renewable energy can be provided while
simultaneously having no detriment to wildlife. Such mitigation will
be critical in reaping the undoubted benefits for climate change that
can be provided by renewable energy."
Co-author Professor Gareth Jones added, "This is novel research, as
the impacts of solar farms on wildlife are currently little
understood, with no evidence regarding their effects on bats, which
can provide valuable ecosystem services such as the suppression of
pest insect populations.
"The situation is potentially of concern as solar farms are occupying
increasing areas of suitable foraging area for bats, and we already
know that bats can collide with vertical flat surfaces, and can
mistake flat surfaces for water, and attempt to drink from them. Very
little is known on the impacts of solar farms on bat, particularly in
the UK."
The team now plan to look at the differences in invertebrate species
richness and abundance between the paired sites.
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