Featured in Sunset for US incentives – 07&08-2025

Nurturing nature

The impact of PV on rural landscapes is an emotive issue, but good evidence is emerging that when managed correctly, solar farms can enhance biodiversity. At Lancaster University, the impact of solar installations on ecosystems is a key area of research – pv magazine caught up with the researchers uncovering how PV affects plants, pollinators, soil health and more.

By

Matthew Lynas

04 Aug 2025

Researcher Hollie Blaydes collects data at a UK solar installation. | Image: Hollie Blaydes

Lancaster University research has found that solar farms in England can help to support pollinator biodiversity, provided the right management practices are in place.Plants of many kinds, birds singing on the bushes, various insects flitting about: An ordinary patch of unspoiled English countryside is so rich in biodiversity that Charles Darwin chose it as the …

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