Three trainees, three topics, three publications
Between September 2024 and June 2025, EKOenergy hosted three trainees who focused on how the growth of wind and solar power creates both risks and opportunities for nature protection and restoration. Each trainee concentrated on a different aspect, offering complementary perspectives on the interaction between the energy transition and nature.
Their work resulted in one report and two theses. You can find the links to these documents in the paragraphs hereafter.
Francisco dos Reis Silva – Global insights
Francisco dos Reis Silva explored the global impacts of solar energy on biodiversity by reviewing a wide range of existing research. His work highlights that while solar energy plays a crucial role in addressing climate change, its development can sometimes have adverse effects on nature, particularly when ecosystems are not considered in the planning stages. At the same time, the research suggests ways to make solar parks more nature-friendly, particularly through thoughtful design and effective land management practices.
The review identifies habitat loss and fragmentation as the most commonly reported issues related to solar development. These changes can interfere with wildlife movement, migration routes, and the natural flow of species between habitats. In some cases, solar panels may also pose risks to flying animals due to glare or reflections. Additionally, maintenance practices, especially in dry regions, can exacerbate drought and lead to soil degradation.
However, the review also outlines a range of practices that may help reduce these impacts. These include designing sites with wildlife corridors, integrating vegetation into fences, and using native plants to stabilize the soil and support pollinators. Other ideas, such as adding bird and insect shelters or adjusting panel design to reduce glare, may further support biodiversity when applied appropriately.
Francisco dos Reis Silva suggests engaging ecologists, land managers, and policymakers early in project planning to contribute to more balanced outcomes between energy production and nature conservation.
The research by Francisco dos Reis Silva resulted in the report ”Solar and nature can go hand in hand”.
Claudia Partridge – A framework for biodiversity
Claudia Partridge examined how wind farm development affects biodiversity and used the IUCN Mitigation Hierarchy as a framework to discuss and propose solutions. Rather than focusing only on avoiding harm, that hierarchy also includes ways to reduce, restore, and potentially improve conditions for biodiversity. Her work specifically examines what can be done during the operational phase of wind farms to manage their environmental impacts better.
The mitigation hierarchy includes five stages: Avoid, Minimize, Restore, Offset, and Enhance. These are applied across different phases of a wind project, from planning to decommissioning. Claudia Partridge focused on the operational phase and explored the middle stages: Minimize, Restore, and Enhance, which can offer practical options during the operation of a wind farm.
Examples from the minimization stage include measures to reduce bird and bat collisions, such as adjusting blade movement, using deterrents like painted blades or lights, and reducing local vegetation (although the latter does have drawbacks for biodiversity).
The restoration stage discusses how different types of land, peatlands, deserts, grasslands, and shrublands, can be supported through planting, seeding, and water management. Microclimate changes caused by turbines were also considered, as they may affect local conditions in various ways.
Regarding the enhancement stage, Claudia Partridge discussed steps that could improve habitat conditions, such as creating wildlife corridors, supporting pollinators, and installing habitat structures. While not always easy to implement, these strategies can offer additional value when conditions allow.
Overall, the research suggests that applying a clear framework like the mitigation hierarchy can help renewable energy developers think more systematically about biodiversity and identify opportunities for improvement within project timelines.
You can find Claudia Partridge’s thesis, Building a nature-positive energy future using the mitigation hierarchy : how wind energy operation can benefit biodiversity, on the website of LUT University: https://lutpub.lut.fi/handle/10024/169880
Sari Serenius – Policy and biodiversity
Sari Serenius focused on the Finnish context, looking at where and how solar parks are built, and how they might affect or support local biodiversity. Her work combines scientific research with interviews with developers and environmental professionals, offering a closer look at the practical and policy-related issues shaping solar energy development in Finland.
The study looks at common land types for solar projects in Finland such as former peat extraction sites, fields, forests, and wastelands, and examines how biodiversity in these areas may respond. Some landscapes, such as degraded peatlands or fields, may offer opportunities for ecological recovery if managed with care. For example, planting native species or restoring wetland conditions may help create habitat, while grazing can help maintain open meadows. Forests, on the other hand, tend to be more complex ecosystems, and the potential for negative trade-offs may be higher.
One key theme in Sari Serenius’ research is the role of policy and regulation. She notes inconsistencies in permitting practices, especially between regional authorities, can cause delays and uncertainty for developers. While most solar parks under 200 hectares are not required to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), opinions vary on whether current review processes are sufficient. Some interviewees felt that ecological aspects were already adequately considered, while others believed that more structured guidance could be helpful.
To address these challenges, the research outlines a few policy ideas, such as more consistent national guidelines and mechanisms to account for ecological impacts. Serenius also highlights the potential role of local communities in supporting biodiversity through initiatives such as gardening, habitat conservation, or pollinator support around solar sites.
The overall message of her work is that clearer policies and stronger cooperation among developers, authorities, and communities could facilitate the integration of biodiversity considerations into solar energy planning.
You can find Sari Serenius’ thesis, Exploring scientific and commercial views on integrating biodiversity and policy into industrial-scale solar energy developments in Finland, here: https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1968656/FULLTEXT01.pdf. On EKOenergy’s YouTube channel, you can also find an interview in which Sari Serenius summarises the main findings and conclusions.
Final reflection
These three projects each offer a distinct perspective on the relationship between renewable energy development and biodiversity. Francisco dos Reis Silva adopts a global ecological perspective, focusing on how solar projects impact species and landscapes, and what can be done to mitigate those effects. Claudia Partridge presents a practical planning framework for wind energy that helps guide biodiversity decisions over the lifetime of a project. Sari Serenius brings in the national and local contexts, examining how policies and processes shape what happens on the ground in Finland.
Publication: 16 August 2025
