Solar power plants take up space. Whether they adversely affect habitats or can even contribute to biodiversity depends largely on the sites on which they are installed and how they are designed.. 

The expansion of solar energy is progressing steadily in Germany and is increasingly altering the appearance of the landscape. Whether ground-mounted photovoltaic installations can create habitats for plants, insects and birds, or whether they cause long-term damage to species-rich grassland, depends largely on the choice of site, as well as the design and maintenance management of the installation areas.

With funding from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) supports research projects in the field of ‘nature conservation and renewable energy’ that systematically investigate and assess the impact of solar power installations on nature and landscape. 

he following overview brings together selected projects that analyse the requirements for the planning, construction, operation and maintenance of solar power plants, with a view to reconciling nature conservation objectives with the expansion of solar energy. At the same time, they highlight the conditions under which ground-mounted solar farms (PV) can contribute to biodiversity.