How Solar Farms Support Bees and Pollinator Health

By Blake Jackson

Solar farms require substantial land, but the space surrounding and between solar panels can serve purposes beyond energy production.

According to Penn State Extension, developers can establish pollinator habitats in these areas, creating a form of land management that can benefit pollinators, agriculture, communities, ecosystems, and solar projects.

Pollinator habitats typically combine native grasses, flowering plants, and other vegetation that provide food and shelter for bees, butterflies, and other pollinating species. Their importance is growing as many pollinator populations face increasing pressures.

A NatureServe study found that roughly one-fifth of pollinator species are at elevated risk of extinction. The decline of these species can affect ecosystems as well as agricultural production because many food crops depend on pollinators for reproduction.

Habitat loss is a major factor contributing to pollinator declines. Research from Argonne National Laboratory found that solar sites incorporating pollinator-friendly vegetation experienced substantially greater pollinator diversity and bee abundance than conventional sites.

The research also indicated that more bees visited agricultural fields located near solar installations with pollinator habitat.

Solar properties may also provide opportunities for beekeeping. Apiaries can be located near or just outside a site's security fence, giving beekeepers convenient access while keeping colonies close to flowering vegetation. Honey production can therefore become another potential use of land associated with solar projects.

For developers, establishing pollinator habitat may also reduce long-term maintenance needs. Conventional grass cover often requires mowing every four to six weeks during the growing season.

Although pollinator plantings can require several years of careful establishment and management, mature vegetation can be selected and maintained at a height of about 2 to 3 feet. This can reduce mowing frequency to once or twice annually and potentially lower maintenance expenses throughout a solar project's operating life.

The vegetation can provide additional environmental benefits by developing deeper root systems that improve stormwater management and reduce runoff.

Plants may also help moderate temperatures around solar panels, which generally perform more efficiently under cooler conditions.

Species with reflective characteristics, or higher albedo, may provide additional benefits for certain bifacial solar panels.

While establishing pollinator habitat requires planning and ongoing management, Penn State Extension notes that solar sites can provide an opportunity to combine renewable energy production with habitat restoration and other beneficial land uses.

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