Solar farms could play an important role in protecting biodiversity and encouraging the growth of wildlife a recent study has found.

A study carried out by RSPB and University of Cambridge found that solar farms on land in East Anglia, England contained both a greater number of bird species, and a greater number of birds overall, than surrounding arable farmland.

In areas where solar farms were managed with biodiversity in mind, and where there is a mix of habitats, nearly three times as many birds could be found as in nearby agricultural land.

Dr Catherine Waite, Researcher at the University of Cambridge, and co-author of the study said, “With the combined climate and biodiversity crises, using land efficiently is crucial.”

“Our study shows that if you manage solar energy production in a certain way, not only are you proving clean energy but benefitting biodiversity”.

Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan highlighted that studies have found that 21% of breeding and 52% of key wintering bird species in the country were reported to have short term declining trends.

The latest review of Birds of Conservation Concern placed 26% of 211 bird species assessed on the Red list, i.e. considered to have a high conservation concern.

This new research, published in the journal Bird Study, took place in the East Anglian Fens and looked at two types of solar farms: those with a mix of habitats within the solar farm and those with a simpler associated habitat. 

Simple habitat was intensively managed, with no hedgerows along the boundaries and was constantly grazed by sheep. 

The mixed habitat solar farms had hedgerows around the edges, with no sheep grazing or grass cutting, leading to a greater diversity of flowering plants.  

The solar farms with mixed habitats were found to have a greater number and variety of threatened bird species than surrounding farmland and simple solar farms.

This suggests that nature-friendly management practices could provide a significant boost for birds. 

The RSPB’s Chief Executive Beccy Speight said, “Delivering a future that safeguards nature, tackles climate change, ensures food security and resilient farm businesses, and enables sustainable development is the only sensible path. This research shows that it is possible to balance competing needs.”