Svensk Solenergi är med i referensgruppen till Bio Solar, ett projekt som ska undersöka biologisk mångfald i solparker i flera europeiska länder.
Högskolan i Gävle har blivit beviljade medel från Formas för att bland annat inventera tre solparker på jordbruksmark i Sverige. Preliminärt handlar det om att undersöka förekomsten av insekter, fåglar och däggdjur över en treårsperiod.
Från kansliet medverkar Ludvig Bydén
Projektperiod: 1 december 2024–30 november 2027
Beskrivning av projektet på engelska:
Bio Solar is a pioneering transnational and multidisciplinary research project proposing a novel Nature-based Solution (NbS) to enhance biodiversity in arable lands occupied by solar farms. Spanning diverse European climatic regions in Spain, Portugal, Poland, and Sweden, our NbS establishes grasslands and avoids pesticides throughout the solar farms' lifecycle. We foster biodiversity conservation while balancing human well-being, energy needs, and economic viability. By integrating nature-positive impacts into valuation and financial decision-making, we contribute to the emerging field of Biodiversity Finance, addressing the urgent need to close the biodiversity funding gap. The project investigates the impact of establishing grasslands within solar farms, to recover biodiversity over the estimated two-decade lifespan of solar panels. We address the key environmental obstacle for green energy projects due to the potential negative social responses from local communities, especially in sensitive areas affecting steppe birds. Variations in solar radiation, rainfall, and evapotranspiration along a South-North gradient may lead to regional differences in grassland effects within solar farms. Objectives include identifying suitable locations, cost-benefit analysis, monitoring biodiversity and soil properties, and evaluating community perceptions and acceptance of biodiversity NbS for solar farms and accounting for economic and biodiversity trade-offs. Innovation and Novelty: The research employs a multifaceted methodology encompassing social, economic, and environmental assessments, with detailed cost evaluations. There is currently a gap in measurement guidelines for biodiversity goals, which is crucial for impact investors and sustainable finance. Our aim is to address this gap by developing Science-based Biodiversity Guidelines (SbBG) to measure attainment of various biodiversity goals. Research Methodology: Structured across 10 work packages, the research employs a multifaceted methodology, including social impact via focus groups and in-depth interviews, economic analysis, environmental diagnoses and developing financial tools for funding. Impact and Knowledge Sharing: We intend to disseminate our findings through participation in international scientific conferences, publication in peer-reviewed journals, and collaborations with stakeholders. Additionally, we will engage with the wider public through social media channels. Our biology field research will be conducted across four countries, providing valuable insights into biodiversity conservation, and economic and social impact analysis covering 8 participating countries. We also plan to deliver policy recommendations for biodiversity conservation and industry guidelines for energy and finance industry stakeholders.
