Impacts of solar farms on biodiversity: a roundup of the research

CPRE Hertfordshire has compiled the research on the impacts of solar farms on local biodiversity.

We are all for renewable energy, but we are deeply concerned about the impacts of large-scale commercial solar farms in the countryside. We want to see solar panels on rooftops – on homes, warehouses, office buildings, canopies over top of car parks – not on productive agricultural land and open landscapes in the countryside.

There are many issues associated with commercial solar farms. These include landscape and visual impact, fire hazard, loss of agricultural land for growing food crops, impact on public and residential amenity, and impact on biodiversity and wildlife.

Impacts of solar farms on biodiversity

We are pleased to publish our compilation of the existing research on the impacts of solar farms on biodiversity. This may be of use to local residents and community groups as they campaign for their local countryside, amidst what is becoming a tidal wave of solar farm proposals across Hertfordshire.

The research includes:

• Potential impacts on species generally
• Potential impacts on bats
• Potential impacts on birds – including priority species such as skylarks, wagtails, yellowhammers and linnets
• Potential impacts on other protected species – including newts, hares, hedgehogs, mice and badgers
• Potential impacts on habitats
• Issues regarding on-site habitat enhancements
• Impacts on and reinstatement of soils

Download the research

To read about other issues associated with solar farms, see our main webpage on solar. Here you will find our CPRE Hertfordshire policy statement on ground mounted solar installations, our inventory of solar farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) proposals across Hertfordshire, and our comments on recent solar and BESS planning applications.

Is your local community impacted by a proposed solar farm?

Please get in touch if your Hertfordshire community may be impacted by a proposed large-scale solar farm. We are tracking solar proposals across the county and over the past several years we have gained considerable experience in fighting the most damaging of these proposals through our representations at planning appeal Inquiries.

Please also consider joining CPRE Hertfordshire. We are the countryside charity for the county, and we rely on membership subscriptions and donations to fund all of our work to protect and promote the countryside, for everyone. It’s easy and quick to join online.