Evaluating potential effects of solar power facilities on wildlife from an animal behavior perspective

Abstract

Solar power is a renewable energy source with great potential to help meet increasing global energy demands and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. However, research is scarce on how solar facilities affect wildlife. With input from professionals in ecology, conservation, and energy, we conducted a research-prioritization process and identified key questions needed to better understand impacts of solar facilities on wildlife. We focused on animal behavior, which can be used to identify population responses before mortality or other fitness consequences are documented. Behavioral studies can also offer approaches to understand the mechanisms leading to negative interactions (e.g., collision, singeing, avoidance) and provide insight into mitigating effects. Here, we review how behavioral responses to solar facilities, Rachel Y. Chock, Barbara Clucas, and Elizabeth K. Peterson contributed equally to this study.

The geographic extent of bird populations affected by renewable‐energy development

“…Instead, we suspect that this difference is likely more influenced by the location along the flyway and the habitat in which the facility is sited than by the mode of energy generation. Migrants searching for a stopover site with water in the deserts of Southern California may be at particular risk of fatalities at solar‐energy facilities because the reflection of polarized light on solar panels from the sun, moon, or artificial sources is hypothesized to attract insects or create an artificial “lake effect” that attracts some bird species (Chock et al., 2021). Ten of the 18 species found at solar facilities are not expected to use the habitat in which they died, and all but one of those species were composed of >50% of nonlocal individuals (Appendix S11).…”

Challenges and Solutions in Solar Photovoltaic Technology Life Cycle

“…Passing the animals safely requires safe access to gates. However, there are some positive impacts of the construction of solar power plants, i.e., covering small animals [182]. The impacts of solar systems on human health are less than other conventional resources because of lower emissions of hazardous gases.…”

Detailed mapping of protected species distribution, an essential tool for renewable energy planning in agroecosystems

“…Renewable EI have negative effects on wildlife due to the direct loss of habitat in distribution areas, causing fragmentation and altering their connectivity (Chock et al, 2021;Marques et al, 2014;Turney and Fthanakis, 2011). Wind EI causes mortality of birds, bats and insects; obstacle effect in movements; and habitat loss (Allison et al, 2019;Arnett et al, 2016;Drewitt and Langston, 2006;Gómez-Catasús et al, 2018;Pearse et al, 2021;Voigt, 2021).…”