Solar panels on bodies of water in the northeastern U.S. might generate renewable energy but could also carry risks for birds, especially water birds. Now a new study provides a data-informed approach to siting floating solar that could protect water birds and others, without sacrificing the potential for energy generation.<\/p>\n
In the study,\u00a0published Dec. 23 in Environmental Science & Technology<\/a>, researchers used data from\u00a0a previous Cornell-led project<\/a> that assessed the energy potential of lakes and ponds in the Northeast, finding more than 16,000 suitable locations based on size and proximity to infrastructure. They overlaid that map with a map of bird abundances from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology\u2019s eBird Status and Trends tool.<\/p>\n Using the datasets, they were able to identify bodies of water with the highest likelihood of potential interaction between floating solar facilities and birds, finding that high energy potential didn\u2019t often overlap with high bird interaction.<\/p>\n \u201cBased on our findings, it could be possible to reduce risk to birds via ecologically informed siting, and that might not instill a reduction in energy production,\u201d said\u00a0Steven Grodsky<\/a>, assistant professor of natural resources and the environment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). \u201cThis study is the best available science to understand potential interactions, and it can point us towards areas of synergy or conflict, areas where we might want to focus for field studies or conservation.\u201d<\/p>\n With the Lab of Ornithology data, the researchers also drilled down on morphological traits, conservation status and habitat requirements of 291 bird species to determine species that might be most vulnerable in a given area, which could be a \u201creal boon\u201d for wildlife management, Grodsky said. The horned grebe, for example, is decreasing in population already and has low maneuverability and vision, which could make interactions with solar panels more treacherous.<\/p>\n Researchers \u2013 including first author Alison Binley, former Edward W. Rose Postdoctoral Fellow at the Lab of Ornithology \u2013 also assessed the risks the birds might pose to panels. A gaggle of Canadian geese, for example, might defecate so much on the panels that energy production would be compromised \u2013 an incentive for industry to avoid bodies of water with a high abundance of birds. Lakes and ponds with high avian biodiversity were also correlated with higher recreational value, so avoiding them could avert disruption of activities like boating and birdwatching, as well as pushback from residents.<\/p>\n