Developing conservoltaic systems to support biodiversity on solar farms

Abstract

Despite a booming renewable energy sector in Australia, there are few studies investigating the potential for land sharing between renewable energy and nature conservation. We introduce the concept of conservoltic systems, where solar energy and wildlife conservation can occur simultaneously. Habitat conversion is one of the leading threats to biodiversity globally (Fischer & Lindenmayer, 2007). Renewable energy initiatives such as large-scale solar, wind and hydroelectric power installations have recently boomed, requiring large areas of land for power generation. To offset decreasing land available for biodiversity and nature conservation, land sharing (i.e. using the same land for multiple purposes; Fischer et al., 2008) could maximise land value. Agrivoltaic systems (agriculture + voltaic [solar energy]) are one of the suggested multifunction land uses for renewable energy. In these systems, solar energy and agricultural practices coexist to produce beneficial outcomes for both industries, emerging to better meet the needs for multiple commercial-scale financial returns (Adeh et al., 2019; Dinesh & Pearce, 2016; Dupraz et al., 2011). No such scheme, however, exists for combining solar energy and wildlife conservation in Australia. Here, we introduce the concept of conservoltaic systems to identify and exploit opportunities to combine solar energy production and biodiversity conservation. Innovative design and management strategies on solar farms could contribute to nature conservation. Solar panels may provide suitable habitat and structural complexity for wildlife, including shelter from predators, perch or nesting structures and shading (Nordberg et al., 2021; Figure 1 and 2), which can be enhanced with appropriate management (e.g. targeted habitat restoration activities). Consequently, a few studies from Europe have identified opportunities to enhance pollinator biodiversity on large-scale solar parks (Blaydes et al., 2021, 2022; Montag et al., 2016). Clearly defining the required characteristics of conservoltaic sites and the management required for wildlife to benefit from such opportunities is urgent, especially given the current and rapidly increasing extent of solar farms worldwide (Agha et al., 2020; Nordberg et al., 2021). Furthermore, building solar farms on sites degraded by previous land uses, such as arable cropland or livestock grazing, especially in areas with low productivity, provides an opportunity to minimise land conversion while simultaneously increasing land value by creating habitat for local wildlife. We are, however, lacking research on appropriate locations, configurations and management schemes on solar farms to enhance biodiversity retention and recovery. We urgently require empirical data on wildlife use of solar farms and adjoining areas to successfully identify land sharing opportunities of hybrid landscape designs, or ‘conservoltaic’ systems. A collaborative approach across industry, land managers and research organisations is needed to facilitate land management schemes that promote energy production and conservation actions simultaneously (Moore-O'Leary et al., 2017). Eric J. Nordberg: Conceptualization (equal); writing – original draft (lead); writing – review and editing (equal). Lin Schwarzkopf: Conceptualization (equal); writing – original draft (supporting); writing – review and editing (equal). Open access publishing facilitated by University of New England, as part of the Wiley - University of New England agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians. There is no raw data associated with this article.