Study: Solar Farms Affect Local Micro-Climate in Various Ways
- Tereza Pultarova
- Jul 21, 2016
- 1 min read
The first detailed study scrutinising how solar farms affect local micro-climate has been published by Lancaster University scientists.
The study focused on a large solar park near Swindon, UK, which it monitored for a whole year.
The researchers found that the soil beneath the solar panels was up to 5°C cooler than unshaded ground in the same area. The effects, however, varied depending on the time of the day and season.
“Solar parks are appearing in our landscapes but we are uncertain how they will affect the local environment,” said Alona Armstrong, of Lancaster University’s Environment Centre, who led the study.
“This is particularly important as solar parks take up more space per unit of power generated compared with traditional sources. This has implications for ecosystems and the provision of goods, for example crops, and services, such as soil carbon storage.”
The observed impact, if managed carefully, is not necessarily negative. More moderate temperatures at the height of summer may benefit many types of crops and improve soil water retention.
Brookhaven National Laboratory
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