Renewable energies and biodiversity: Impact of ground‐mounted solar photovoltaic sites on bat activity

• Published in: Journal of Applied Ecology
• Main Authors: Tinsley, Elizabeth, Froidevaux, Jérémy, Zsebők, Sándor, Szabadi, Kriszta Lilla, Jones, Gareth
• Other Authors: Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la COnservation (CESCO), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Stirling, University of Bristol Bristol, Leverhulme Trust, Grant/Award Number: ECF-2020-57
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2023
• Subjects: [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology; Pipistrellus pipistrellus
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-04361855; https://hal.science/hal-04361855/document; https://hal.science/hal-04361855/file/Journal%20of%20Applied%20Ecology%20-%202023%20-%20Tinsley%20-%20Renewable%20energies%20and%20biodiversity%20%20Impact%20of%20ground%E2%80%90mounted%20solar.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14474

International audience Abstract Renewable energy is growing at a rapid pace globally but as yet there has been little research on the effects of ground‐mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) developments on bats, many species of which are threatened or protected. We conducted a paired study at 19 ground‐mounted solar PV developments in southwest England. We used static detectors to record bat echolocation calls from boundaries (i.e. hedgerows) and central locations (open areas) at fields with solar PV development, and simultaneously at matched sites without solar PV developments (control fields). We used generalised linear mixed‐effect models to assess how solar PV developments and boundary habitat affected bat activity and species richness. The activity of six of eight species/species groups analysed was negatively affected by solar PV panels, suggesting that loss and/or fragmentation of foraging/commuting habitat is caused by ground‐mounted solar PV panels. Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Nyctalus spp. activity was lower at solar PV sites regardless of the habitat type considered. Negative impacts of solar PV panels at field boundaries were apparent for the activity of Myotis spp. and Eptesicus serotinus , and in open fields for Pipistrellus pygmaeus and Plecotus spp. Bat species richness was greater along field boundaries compared with open fields, but there was no effect of solar PV panels on species richness. Policy implications : Ground‐mounted solar photovoltaic developments have a significant negative effect on bat activity, and should be considered in appropriate planning legislation and policy. Solar photovoltaic developments should be screened in Environmental Impact Assessments for ecological impacts, and appropriate mitigation (e.g. maintaining boundaries, planting vegetation to network with surrounding foraging habitat) and monitoring should be implemented to highlight potential negative effects. Résumé Les énergies renouvelables se développent à un rythme effréné dans le monde entier, mais jusqu'à ...