How to make solar installations more wildlife-friendly

"Wildlife-friendly ground-mounted photovoltaic systems" is the title of a brochure published by the German Hunting Association.

According to the German Hunting Association (DJV), the increasing number of solar parks is accompanied by major challenges for wildlife, such as habitat fragmentation. The new brochure therefore presents specific measures for designing installations in a way that is compatible with wildlife. The focus is on mammals such as hares and deer, as well as ground and hedge breeders and insects.

On 32 pages, there are also tips on how to influence the construction of the facilities and which measures benefit wildlife. It also includes a step-by-step guide to participating in solar parks and submitting comments. It also deals with specific hunting law issues, such as the reduction of hunting leases.

The publication states that solar parks should primarily be built on already sealed surfaces such as building roofs and parking lots or along freeways and railroads. The total built-up area of the solar park should not exceed 70 percent, and attention should be paid to the best possible integration into the landscape in terms of shape, color and reflective properties - which ultimately also has a positive effect on public acceptance.

The prescribed distance between traffic infrastructure and PV systems should be increased to at least 50 meters wide wildlife habitats. In the case of large solar parks, crossing corridors at least 50 meters wide should be planned every 500 meters. The fencing around the installations should at least allow small wild animals to pass through (20 centimetres minimum distance to the ground) or integrate wildlife passages.

The brochure Wildlife-friendly ground-mounted photovoltaic installations is available online, as is a position paper on the subject. A printed version can also be ordered from the DJV online store.

Author: Günter Drewnitzky