A new research project will investigate the biodiversity potential of UK solar farms and will see biodiversity specialists RSK Biocensus work with EDF Renewables UK and the University of Exeter.
The research will focus on the proposed 380-hectare Longfield Solar Farm in Essex, which will generate enough energy to supply around 96,000 homes per year and will be the largest such facility in the UK. Over a six-year period, the student undertaking the PhD research will conduct studies on this and other sites under supervision from RSK Biocensus and the University of Exeter.
RSK Biocensus Director of Research and co-supervisor Professor Richard Delahay said: “The conversion of former agricultural land for solar developments creates a real opportunity for biodiversity enhancements. But, currently, we don’t really understand how best to realise these potential benefits, so that’s exactly what this project will be aiming to find out. We hope that the research being undertaken on EDF’s Longfield Solar Farm and elsewhere will help us to establish best practice for creating and managing biodiverse habitats on these sites.”
The research is likely to include testing different approaches to establish biodiverse habitats in a dedicated part of the Longfield Solar Farm site. Richard said: “We hope to have a number of experimental plots where we will sow different seed mixes, and as the plants and grasses grow, we will look at various ecological indicators of a healthy, diverse ecosystem. These may include things such as the abundance of pollinators and other insects, plant diversity and measures of soil health. This will help us to understand what interventions are delivering the greatest benefits in terms of both biodiversity and retaining the agricultural potential of the land.”
During the project, the PhD student will have the opportunity to visit other EDF solar farm sites across the UK and will work closely with RSK Biocensus ecologists conducting surveys and providing advice to solar farm clients.
Richard said: “The involvement of RSK Biocensus in this EDF-funded study will ensure that the project design and outcomes provide the evidence base required to realise the enormous potential for solar farm developments to deliver positive outcomes for local biodiversity.”
University of Exeter Director of Education and Student Experience Jon Bennie said: “While solar farms are an important part of the transition to a low-carbon economy, if managed appropriately they could also present significant opportunities to provide habitat for wildlife, to enhance biodiversity and to maintain healthy soils and ecosystems. However, there is a lack of research on the best way to achieve this. Our long-term study will allow us to learn how to maximise these environmental gains and minimise potential risks involved in the construction and operation of solar farms, and so inform management decisions.”
The project started in September 2024 and will run for six years.