Solar parks for biodiversity - a double profit

The expansion of solar parks offers an important opportunity to positively influence biodiversity in our cultural landscape. Solar park areas offer special protection for soil and nature. If areas in solar parks are properly maintained, species-rich flowering meadows develop. Flora and fauna conquer the solar park habitat.

To the study

Demonstrable: More biodiversity in solar parks

Double profit

Whether plants or animals: many solar parks have become valuable refuges for rare or endangered species. In the midst of the agricultural landscape, solar parks form large, low-disturbance areas that are secured for decades.

The areas in the facilities are managed extensively. Area maintenance is also important from the plant operator's point of view, e.g. to prevent scrub encroachment. With the appropriate design and the proper surface care species-rich flowering meadows develop on solar park areas. By dispensing with fertilisers and pesticides and supported by a suitable mowing and maintenance concept, "flowering strips XXL" can develop and persist. This initiates the transformation process. The soil recovers and biodiversity increases. The result is Habitats for beetles, butterflies, grasshoppers, wild bees and other insects.

Compared to other areas, the resulting diversity of food and tranquillity also attracts birds, bats and numerous other animals. Suitable fences or hedges make the edges of the solar park areas permeable. The solar park is inhabited and Species communities develop.

Well-planned solar parks promote biodiversity

Study

More than just power generation

The bne study from 2019 comes to the conclusion that Solar parks have a positive impact on biodiversity. Based on this study, a Self-commitment of the solar industry for the good planning of solar parks. The discussion on the biodiversity potential of solar parks began.

A look into the hidden world of the solar park

The study was updated in 2024/2025. A total of 30 modern solar parks in 10 federal states were analysed according to eight species groups.

To the study "Biodiversity in solar parks"

Solar parks, nature conservation and agriculture

Extensive care for intensive diversity

Solar park areas are extensively maintained. This is gentle in comparison to the agricultural land on which food or goods for agriculture are produced.

Grazing also often takes place in solar parks. Sheep are not just woolly favourites, but also actively promote biodiversity. However, extensive maintenance can also be carried out mechanically (e.g. by mowing and removing grass cuttings).

As a rule, there are in the development plans specifications for land maintenancewhich - in addition to row spacing and other biodiversity-promoting measures - are a decisive parameter for species-rich solar parks.

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Every solar park site is different!

Depending on the location and design of the ground-mounted system, different objectives can be pursued. Sometimes it makes sense to realise agri-PV systems where agriculture is the main focus. Quite often, however, it is the case that a site would be better suited to the concept of species-rich solar parks, which can also be well suited to agriculture, due to poor soils, for example. The measures are often interlinked and range from the leaching of over-fertilised areas to the build-up of humus in depleted soils. When implemented well, a more species-rich plant world goes hand in hand with a recovery in the diversity of fauna. and with the right legal framework, this concept also harmonises with agriculture. Because every solar park requires land maintenance.