Biodiversity Team
In agrivoltaics, we also keep an eye on biodiversity, as its decline is alarming. Particularly on agricultural land, ecosystem functions such as pollination and natural pest control are at risk. Our goal is to create a balance between agricultural production, nature conservation, and energy generation.
Through our research, we aim to investigate the relationship between microclimatic changes and biodiversity in agrivoltaics in greater detail. We capture the microclimatic effects of agrivoltaics directly on-site or simulate them through precise models. From an ecological perspective, we analyze and evaluate the results in relation to the existing fauna and flora in the area. These insights enable us to develop targeted strategies to promote biodiversity on agrivoltaic sites. The strategies include environmentally friendly design of the PV systems as well as measures for the preservation and creation of habitats.
An important aspect in developing these concepts is considering the specific conditions of the site. There is no universal solution for promoting biodiversity in agrivoltaic sites. Each location is unique and must be examined accordingly.
Our services integrate an ecological perspective into our existing offerings by incorporating the protection and promotion of biodiversity through a "nature conservation lens":
- Through our feasibility studies, we assess the impacts of agrivoltaic systems on biodiversity and develop strategies for their protection and promotion.
- By using our simulation tools, we test various design options for agrivoltaic systems, optimizing light availability for plants and considering factors such as module orientation and spacing, as well as shading.
- Continuous microclimate monitoring of the interaction between agrivoltaic systems and their environment allows us to precisely document the impacts and optimize the systems in the interest of conservation.
The Biodiversity Team is part of both the group Agrivoltaics and the Photovoltaic Power Plants group of Fraunhofer ISE.