A study in the UK found very large biodiversity at solar parks with vegetation:
"Overall, they observed 1,397 pollinators across at least 30 species."
"According to the study, solar parks were especially beneficial to pollinators in areas with disconnected landscapes. The authors noted that this could be because areas with well-connected landscapes rich in hedgerows and trees could be more attractive to pollinators because they offer a wider range of resources. "
There's 107 square km of desertified land in #Binhe region, Ningxia province, China. Baofeng, a "new energy" company, became its manager.
First they planted alfalfa. Then they planted #solar, soon to be 1GW of it, and it's tall solar, 3m off the ground. Underneath that they planted goji berries.
Now, small wild animals like sparrows, hares and pheasants have come back. Land moisture evaporation is down by between 30 and 40%. #Agrivoltaics is a win-win proposition.
For millenia, humans have known about dryland agriculture using shade trees to protect the more vulnerable plants from the harsh sun. That isn't new. Using solar cells to provide the same shade seems obvious once someone has pointed it out - but I didn't think of it until then.
"The solar panels can also assume an almost vertical position when farm equipment needs to past by. Farmers who host the array would not have to invest in specialized equipment to continue farming."
@CelloMomOnCars When ever I think of panels that could track, or get out of the way, I think about the efficiency dip (net gain?) if ‘power’ was used, and the maintenance and repair issues that might create.
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