{"id":100210,"date":"2022-10-18T08:19:28","date_gmt":"2022-10-18T12:19:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarpowerworldonline.com\/?p=100210"},"modified":"2022-10-18T08:19:28","modified_gmt":"2022-10-18T12:19:28","slug":"doe-invests-research-minimize-wildlife-impacts-large-solar-sites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarpowerworldonline.com\/2022\/10\/doe-invests-research-minimize-wildlife-impacts-large-solar-sites\/","title":{"rendered":"DOE invests in research to minimize wildlife impacts on large solar sites"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $14 million in funding to researchers to study how solar energy infrastructure interacts with wildlife and ecosystems. These projects are part of DOE\u2019s nearly $100 million renewable power research portfolio that invests in innovative, cost-effective solutions to minimize wildlife impacts \u2014 and maximize the environmental benefits \u2014 of renewable energy technologies. As renewable energy deployment grows to combat the climate crisis and achieve President Biden\u2019s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, DOE is supporting research to ensure renewable energy deployment also benefits native wildlife and ecosystems.<\/p>\n

\u201cDOE is committed to ensuring that renewable energy deployment protects natural environments,\u201d said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. \u201cThis first-ever DOE investment in tools to better understand how solar energy infrastructure interacts with native wildlife and the environment will help increase adoption of ecosystem-friendly clean energy deployment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Solar energy development can benefit local communities, protect native wildlife, and foster healthy ecosystems. However, there is little data about how large-scale solar facilities affect wildlife, making it difficult for developers to use best practices when building and managing solar facilities. With today\u2019s investments, DOE is taking critical steps to address this research gap. In addition, new solutions like establishing pollinator habitats<\/a> under solar arrays can support insects and other wildlife that pollinate crops. These are a type of benefits known as ecosystem services, which can also include carbon sequestration and improved soil and water quality.<\/p>\n

Through the Deploying Solar with Wildlife and Ecosystem Services Benefits (SolWEB) funding program<\/a>, researchers will study the interactions of pronghorn, pollinators, birds and other species with solar energy facilities in 26 states. This funding program also includes DOE\u2019s first-ever investments in tools that can assess and help optimize ecosystem services at solar installations.<\/p>\n

Projects addressing wildlife interactions ($8.8 million):<\/p>\n