22 | Obton Investments SOLAR FARMS BOOST BIODIVERSITY New studies show that land-based solar farms provide ideal conditions for both plants and animals. The reason for this is that the land on which the solar panels are sited is given the time, peace and quiet required to develop naturally. local flora and fauna to flourish. At the same time, the untouched soil helps protect the water table because the ground is neither fertilised nor sprayed with chemicals,” relates Nicky Larsen, Senior Business Developer at Obton. MORE BUTTERFLIES, BEES AND WILD FLOWERS Solar farms represent enormous potential when it comes to pro- tecting plants and animals – and improving their conditions. This has been confirmed by two independent reports, one from the German Association of Energy Market Innovators ( Bundesverband Neue Energiewirtschaft – BNE) and the other from the British Solar Trade Association (STA). “Fully developed solar farms have a service life of at least 30 years, and the actual solar panel fixtures typically claim less than 5 percent of the site area. This means there is plenty of time and space for the DOES NOT TAKE UP GOOD FARMING LAND The British and German studies also reveal that new solar farms are seldom sited on good farming land. “For example, Obton’s biggest solar farm in Germany is located in a disused gravel quarry that cannot be used for either farmland or forest. Moreover, we typically locate our new land-based solar farms in places that are not immediately attractive for other purposes. For example, we use land that borders motorways or large industrial estates,” says Nicky Larsen.
Del
Print
Download PDF fil
