Solar Parks - the potential for biodiversity and ecosystem Net-Gain

25th November 2019


In this webinar we learnt about the potential for Solar Parks and specifically, their opportunity to enhance the natural environment. Our key focus is the SPIES project – Solar Parks and Impacts on Ecosystem Services.

Posted on Nov 25, 2019

In this webinar we learnt about the potential for Solar Parks and specifically, their opportunity to enhance the natural environment. Our key focus is the SPIES project – Solar Parks and Impacts on Ecosystem Services.

The SPIES decision support tool informs the management of Solar Parks for environmental co-benefits. It has been co-developed with a cross-sectoral stakeholder group and is underpinned by over 700 pieces of evidence from over 450 peer-reviewed journal articles, ensuring both applicability and a robust evidence-base. It provides an evidence base to inform the potential ‘net environmental gain’, as stipulated in the DEFRA 25-year Environment Plan and reflected in the 2018 National Planning Policy Framework, of solar parks and summarises these in an output suitable for planning applications.

Speakers:

  • Dr Alona Armstrong - Senior Lecturer in Energy & Environmental Sciences, Lancaster University
  • Professor Piran White, Professor of Environmental Management, University of York
  • Esther Rosewarne, Policy Officer, Solar Trade Association

For more information, including log-in details for the SPIES tool, visit https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/spies/. The SPIES tool is a collaboration between Lancaster University and the University of York funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NE/ N016955/1 & NE/R009449/1). The web-based version of the SPIES tool was developed by Simomics Ltd.

Presentations

Solar Parks - the potential for biodiversity and ecosystem Net-Gain slides - N,Blyth IEMA Policy & Engagement Lead - CLICK HERE

Overview: Solar PV in the UK - E,Rosewarne, Policy Officer, Solar Trade Association - CLICK HERE

Solar Park Impacts on Ecosystem Services - A,Armstrong, Senior Lecturer in Energy & Environmental Sciences, Lancaster University & P,White, Professor of Environmental Management, University of York - CLICK HERE


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