Solar+native plants=more pollinators

Industrial solar installations are typically huge. But according to a five year study by Argonne Labs, the installations can increase biodiversity, especially of pollinators, if the sites are seeded with native plants.

They studied two sites in Minnesota, retired farmland, where the area was seeded with native plants.

Total insect abundance tripled, while native bees showed a 20-fold increase in numbers.

By the end of the field campaign, the team observed increases for all habitat and biodiversity metrics. There was an increase in native plant species diversity and flower abundance. In addition, the team observed increases in the abundance and diversity of native insect pollinators and agriculturally beneficial insects, which included honeybees, native bees, wasps, hornets, hoverflies, other flies, moths, butterflies and beetles. Flowers and flowering plant species increased as well. Total insect abundance tripled, while native bees showed a 20-fold increase in numbers. The most numerous insect groups observed were beetles, flies and moths.

So if properly designed, solar installations can help to restore biodiversity, especially of smaller plants and animals. This feature can improve acceptance of the installation.

The research findings suggest two important implications of habitat-friendly solar energy. One is that habitat-friendly solar sites can play an important role in conserving biodiversity. Large amounts of ground-mounted solar is expected to be developed in the future, but if properly sited, habitat-friendly solar can offset the losses of natural areas to provide biodiversity benefits.

Second, habitat-friendly solar sites can help mitigate land-use conflicts associated with the conversion of farmland for solar energy production. As approximately 80% of future ground-mounted solar development could occur on agricultural lands, the proper siting of habitat-friendly solar energy on marginal farmland can not only preserve prime farmland, but it could make prime farmland more productive through the pollination services provided by habitat-friendly solar energy.

https://www.anl.gov/article/insect-populations-flourish-in-the-restored-habitats-of-solar-energy-facilities