Nature: Partial shading by solar panels delays bloom, increases floral abundance during the late-season for pollinators in a dryland, agrivoltaic ecosystem

A recent study published in Nature explores the nuances of pollinator habitats under ground array solar panels.

The authors explain, “Some solar developers and agriculturalists in the United States are filling the solar understory with habitat for pollinating insects in efforts to maximize land-use efficiency in agricultural lands.”

“…Here we investigated the effects of solar arrays on plant composition, bloom timing and foraging behavior of pollinators from June to September (after peak bloom) in full shade plots and partial shade plots under solar panels as well as in full sun plots (controls) outside of the solar panels. We found that floral abundance increased and bloom timing was delayed in the partial shade plots, which has the potential to benefit late-season foragers in water-limited ecosystems.”

They conclude, “Unused or underutilized lands below solar panels represent an opportunity to augment current paucity and expected decline of pollinator habitat.”

Last year, Mission Energy added pollinator plants to its Catholic Energies project for Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Washington — the largest solar ground array in Washington, DC. Their efforts transformed otherwise gravel-covered land into a beautiful space. The flowering plants will become a flourishing habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinating species to play an integral role in the local ecosystem.

Read the full Nature study here.

Catholic Energies, a program of Mission Energy, serves Catholic churches, organizations, and nonprofits. Read more about the Archdiocese of Washington solar panels and pollinator field here.