From fungi to forests, bacteria to bountiful deserts, biodiversity is one of our greatest assets to be protected. It is impossible to overstate it as this November in Glasgow, the COP26 becomes a critical moment for humanity to commit to substantial and binding changes to tackle the climate crisis and pay high attention to biodiversity.

With the recent publication of the “biodiversity target-setting” guide as part of the UN principles for responsible banking, it is recommended to assess and improve all solar PV projects to ensure that they are truly sustainable across the spectrum of ecological objectives and financeable into the future.

PV’s contribution to a cleaner future can go well beyond generating emissions-free energy, but maximizing the opportunity is not always straightforward. Simply relying on the belief that solar is “green” enough because the zero-carbon emissions from its generation are no longer enough. As a dedicated pioneer in the renewable energy industry, how is Sungrow protecting global biodiversity with PV? Below are three examples.

Turn Desert to Pasture

It's a hot early summer’s day in the Kubuqi Desert, Inner Mongolia, China. The air smells of wildflowers, the insects are buzzing and all this is in the middle of a solar park. The plant has not only been producing green electricity for almost three years. It has at the same time become the home of various species. 

The Kubuqi Desert was known as the seventh-largest desert of China with over 3,180 sunshine hours annually, making it an ideal solar hub. Solar plants installed with Sungrow’s PV inverter solutions prevent sandstorms and reduce aeolian sand. The shade of PV panels allows the inhabitants to grow grasses and feed herds, significantly improving the ecological and economic environment.

“Our living environment is improving. A growing number of job creations can be offered for ecological restoration,” said local farmers and herdsmen who are the direct beneficiaries of the PV desertification control program.

Collapsed Coal Mines Turned into Floating Solar Farms

In the city of Huainan, China, a mass of solar panels can be found floating on a multitude of land that was once used for coal mining. However, as a result of rain and flooding, the area is covered with water ranging from four to ten meters deep. As a result, the Chinese government has optimized the land to farm a much more sustainable energy source.

The 150MW Huainan project is the largest floating PV plant with an annual clean energy generation of 220GWh. The certified PV inverter and floating system solutions Sungrow supplied meet the high standards of water quality and international requirements. It reduces water evaporation and does not occupy land resources. Moreover, the floating body blocks sunlight which inhibits algae overgrowth.

In Malaysia, a similar plant was commissioned. The 13MW floating solar power plant in the Selangor state on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia is the country’s first-ever floating PV plant, which was previously a sand mining ore lake.

A New Use for Land

North of China’s Guangdong province, the city Renhua is known as the land of non-ferrous metals. The 200MW PV project Sungrow supplied, occupying 247 hectares and generating green electricity of 200GWh per year, gives new life to the land through the durable utilization modes both ecologically and economically.

This is China’s first PV project which was combined with contaminated land treatment. With the  shade tolerant hyperaccumulator growing up under the PV panels, the content of metallica in the soil can be gradually decreased given the botany’s enrichment and extraction function to the soil. 

“The project can bring us a healthier environment as well as innovative highlights to our county tourism,” said a local resident. It’s reported that thousands of tourists visited the country to witness the groundbreaking technology.

In Summary - PV’s Positive Effect on Biodiversity

·The green of land creates habitats for plants and animals in the long term, so that the diversity of species can be maintained or increased and the soil erosion can be contained.

·The fertility of the soil is increased and consequently captures carbon dioxide.

·Toxic substances in the soil are reduced as a result of specific plants growing under the solar panels.

Biodiversity is the primary characteristic of our planet and the charm of humankind. We adhere to PV for biodiversity as the PV systems are an option that offers several advantages featuring cheap and environmentally friendly. The next decade will be crucial to put us on track to decarbonize the economy, even more, crucial for promoting the harmonious co-existence between humans and nature. Let’s move ahead and get it done!

About Sungrow

Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. (“Sungrow”) is the world’s most bankable inverter brand with over 182 GW installed worldwide as of June 2021. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial & industrial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions. With a strong 24-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power installations in over 150 countries. Learn more about Sungrow by visiting www.sungrowpower.com.