Enhancing biodiversity at solar farms

We are committed to respecting and protecting the natural, cultural and historical heritage of the environments where we work. During development, we undertake environmental impact assessments and create plans to minimise environmental impact throughout the lifecycle of each project.

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. We have used our expertise to utilise space to maximise wildlife improvements across several projects we support with Operation and Maintenance (O&M) services. This includes a solar farm in Oxfordshire, where we have supported a landscape management plan to plant native tree species.

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.