Biodiversity research on solar farms with University of Exeter and EDF Renewables UK

Project summary

RSK Biocensus has partnered with EDF Renewables UK and the University of Exeter on a research project investigating the biodiversity potential of UK solar farms. Over a six-year period beginning September 2024, studies will be conducted to gain a greater understanding of the impact of biodiversity enhancements on solar farms. The research will focus on the site of the proposed Longfield Solar Farm in Essex.

The background

The conversion of former agricultural land for solar developments creates opportunities for biodiversity enhancements. Current understanding of how best to realise such benefits, however, is limited. A PhD student funded by EDF and supervised by the University of Exeter and RSK Biocensus will conduct research to monitor key ecological features and test novel planting regimes at Longfield Solar Farm.

RSK Biocensus and sister company RSK Wilding have a long-standing relationship with EDF, delivering ecology and biodiversity support across its sites. This includes the provision of ecology and biodiversity design support on two other EDF solar sites currently under development.

The challenges

RSK Biocensus conducted a recent review of the evidence relating to biodiversity enhancements on solar farm sites and identified significant knowledge gaps. These included a lack of experimental studies on how to optimise biodiversity benefits. The current research project seeks to address this issue and thereby inform best practice for creating and managing biodiverse habitats on solar sites.

The solutions

The research work focuses on testing different approaches to establishing biodiverse habitats in a dedicated part of the Longfield Solar Farm site. A series of experimental plots sown with different seed mixes will be monitored for several years. Ecological features of particular interest include the abundance and diversity of pollinators and other insects, plant diversity, measures of soil health and carbon content.

Monitoring this suite of receptors will further our understanding of which interventions deliver the greatest benefits in terms of biodiversity, carbon capture and retaining the agricultural potential of the land for future use.

The impact

This study will help fill important knowledge gaps and contribute to the development of best practice guidelines for maximising biodiversity benefits on solar farms while retaining healthy soils and contributing to carbon sequestration.