SHARING SOLAR PANEL SPACE

 SHARING SOLAR PANEL SPACE

 When solar panels were installed often turf grass or gravel was placed below and around the panels. 

Now more and more owners are beginning to create meadows blanketed with native  and wild flowers.  

 A study in Minnesota found that planting meadows filled with pollinating plants such as milkweeds, black-eyed Susans,  bee balm, cone flowers, and more attracted many pollinators including Monarch butterflies. 

In the UK it was discovered that “solar meadows” boosted the number of bumble bees even in areas close to the panels.

Solar panels shaded plants delaying their blossoming time and thus providing nectar throughout the season. 


Other advantages of planting meadows rather than using  gravel is the plants sequester carbon, help recharge groundwater, and help reduce erosion. 

Studies also showed that an increase in pollinators helped  farmers crop creating an increase of soya beans by 6.3%.

A non-profit Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund’s Solar Synergy will provide free seed mixtures. 

The seed mixtures are especially  created to provide nectar-filled blossoms  from spring until autumn.










 

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