This four-year project, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technology Office, brings together leading researchers and large-scale solar developers to investigate the ecological and economic benefits as well as performance impacts of co-located pollinator plantings at large, utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) facilities.
The project will:
- Consider the impacts of scale and configuration of pollinator plantings on PV performance, installation and operational costs, and ecological benefits.
- Focus on large-scale solar facilities that have capacities of 10 MW or greater.
- Perform field research and tool development to inform decisions on if, when, and how to incorporate pollinator plantings into solar projects.
- Engage solar industry partners and share findings with broader industry stakeholders.
