The rapid expansion of solar energy is transforming landscapes and natural habitats. A study published in Environmental Research Communications focuses on one of these effects: What happens to the vegetation in solar parks?
Researchers at the IMBE have carried out a meta-analysis involving 161 parks and 2,429 flora surveys in France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Their findings show that the Solar panels reduce vegetation cover and the number of species are present but favour plants that are better adapted to the shade. The management of plots through grazing or mowing also influences the composition of the vegetation, but in different ways depending on whether there are signs. The study also reveals that The site’s history prior to the installation of the panels continues to influence biodiversity several years later : Parks established on former wooded areas therefore have a lower species richness than those developed on former industrial sites.
These findings show that biodiversity in solar parks does not depend solely on the presence of solar panels or how they are managed, but also on the characteristics and history of the soil. They therefore highlight the importance of to consider the restoration and management of these spaces in accordance with the local context, in particular by promoting species suited to the shaded conditions beneath the panels and by reintroducing grassland species where necessary.
