Enhancing biodiversity at solar farms

We are committed to respecting and protecting the natural, cultural and historical heritage of the environments where we work. Across the 1,300 sites we support in 24 countries, we ensure compliance with local legislation and ESG disclosures, while also applying best practice through a global approach. Land management is a key part of this, and we assess opportunities to enhance ecology wherever possible.

We believe that protecting nature and expanding renewable energy must go hand in hand.

Biodiversity in practice: Going beyond compliance

In 2022, we collaborated with our customer at several of their UK solar farms to proactively introduce biodiversity enhancements, going beyond standard habitat management practices. These initiatives include sowing wildflower meadows, replanting native hedgerows, installing bird and bat boxes, and using environmentally friendly weed control methods.

Monitoring reports in 2024 have revealed a rich diversity of flora and fauna across the solar farms, including numerous species of butterflies, bees, wildflowers, and breeding birds, with several red-listed Species of Conservation Concern, such as the turtle dove. Biodiversity net gain calculations have shown the farms exceeding their 10% target, demonstrating the positive impact of these enhancements on local wildlife and the environment.

Eco-cuts: Rethinking land management at solar sites

The margins of solar farms between panels and the site boundary have great potential for providing habitats for wildlife. Using our expertise to utilise space to maximise wildlife improvements across projects we support, we have evolved our land management approach to introduce the concept of ‘eco-cuts’, which now become our standard approach in most site maintenance plans. Eco-cuts approach limits grass cutting during flowering season to only the areas essential for access and panel efficiency, allowing wildflowers and natural habitats to thrive on site. Hedges are trimmed on a rotational basis to ensure berries remain available for birds and pollinators through winter.

A solar farm in Devon was one of the first sites where the positive ecological impact of eco-cuts was observed. The site is surrounded by mature trees and features a diverse sward with an abundance of wildflowers, all of which have been carefully maintained. Butterflies are commonly seen across the site, including between the rows of solar panels. The areas left untouched after the eco-cut were teeming with invertebrates, clearly demonstrating the ecological benefits of this land management approach.

In Somerset, we have collaborated with a local landowner to manage nine acres of wildflower meadow – through a managed process of not cutting during certain seasons, the area allows pollinators and birds to feed. Ecological monitoring recorded a range of species including a rare orchid, eight bird species under conservation and a high abundance of dragonflies, demonstrating the benefits of this approach to the local area.

While the impact at individual sites may be modest, the collective benefit across our solar portfolio is considerable and we are exploring how this model can be adapted internationally.

Operating Responsibly

Our approach to biodiversity is part of our broader environmental commitment. We conduct environmental impact assessments at the development stage and implement measures to reduce environmental impact throughout the operational lifecycle.

We are certified to ISO 14001 for environmental management across parts of our organisation. In France, our teams have also achieved a Bronze EcoVadis certification, recognising progress in environmental performance, human rights, ethics, and responsible purchasing.