Enhancing Biodiversity in Solar Parks

The project, titled Optimizing Biodiversity Support of Solar Parks Implemented in Open Countryside, examines how solar parks can act as biodiversity hotspots in otherwise monocultural landscapes. Researchers from the Czech University of Life Sciences are studying vegetation and species at solar parks to develop standards for integrating biodiversity-enhancing measures.

Our role involves facilitating access to our solar plants and those of our customers for research purposes. The collected data will inform biodiversity support measures while ensuring efficient solar park maintenance. To showcase their potential, we will implement these measures on our own plants as a pilot project, setting an example for broader adoption across the industry.

The project is supported by the Technological Agency of the Czech Republic under the EU's Environment for Life Programme.

• Increase the ecological value of solar parks by integrating biodiversity-supporting measures.
• Demonstrate how solar parks can contribute to preserving local ecosystems and enriching the biodiversity of surrounding landscapes.
• Reduce long-term maintenance costs of green areas in solar parks through ecologically sustainable methods.
• Contribute to ongoing European research efforts by providing data and insights to inform biodiversity-focused solar park practices.

• Detailed evaluation of the current ecological state of solar parks, including species identification and comparisons with the surrounding landscape.
• Practical recommendations and standards to support ecological enhancement while ensuring efficient solar park operations.
• Application of biodiversity-enhancing practices on selected solar parks as pilot projects, serving as models for broader adoption.
• Assessment of the financial benefits of biodiversity-focused management practices, demonstrating the economic value of "green solar parks".

• Project Title: Optimizing Biodiversity Support of Solar Parks Implemented in Open Countryside
• Registration Number: SS07020239
• Provider: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
• Project Coordinator: Czech University of Life Sciences
• Funding: EU's Life Programme Environment for Life (Call 7)
• Duration: April 2024 - June 2026
• Beneficiaries: Ministry of Environment (MoE), State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic, policymakers, solar park developers and owners