Solar farms: an opportunity to recover biodiversity in farmlands

The BioSolar-project seeks to examine the synergies and benefits of Nature-based solutions (NBS) in the context of human well-being, as well as how NBS can mitigate the anthropogenic factors causing the loss of biodiversity. This project intends to explore the possibilities of using solar farms to enhance biodiversity by NBS.

The project is thus designed to investigate and establish the synergies between renewable energy production and biodiversity conservation, particularly in industrially cultivated areas where biodiversity has been and still is significantly declining.

The approach involves transforming solar farms into areas that not only support renewable energy generation but also act as refuges for a wide range of flora and fauna, thereby enriching local biodiversity.

The objective is to provide insights into how the coexistence of renewable energy generation and biodiversity conservation in rural landscapes, can offer actionable recommendations for policy development and decision-making.

The Swedish partner is responsible for WP 4 and 5, focusing on assessing the effect of solar farms on soil quality and biodiversity of soil microbiota, flora and fauna. The Nordic conditions provide a valuable context for this research seen on a European level.

Sweden is the northernmost region in this all-European research project and is hence essential for the outcome of the project. The study will be performed in cooperation with major solar-energy companies in Sweden.