Going green takes on extra meaning when a solar array gets established in a pollinator garden. As the nation’s energy needs necessitate more distributed energy resources, and as millions more acres could be required, research focuses on the greening of what goes under and around a photovoltaic system.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) leads the way with research on pollinator-friendly spaces as part of its larger area of research on agrivoltaics, including grazing areas for livestock such as sheep and cattle.
Benefits of greening the spaces around solar arrays can include general environmental stewardship, better rainwater management, decreased need for herbicides, soil health, biodiversity, support for dual use of areas and sustainability of bees and other pollinators that support plant life. The Department of Energy (DOE) explains what pollinator-friendly solar can look like.
NREL has specific research and guidelines for creating pollinator habitat on utility-scale solar installations. This short video shows examples of various demonstration plantings around arrays on a NREL campus.
Locally, Knoxville Utilities Board workers have supported this example at Knoxville Community Solar. For Earth Day 2024, KUB posted on social media, “KUB employees celebrated by building two pollinator gardens at the KUB Community Solar site. Our employee sustainability and volunteer teams came together to organize this build, which will provide 10 different species of native plants for butterflies and hummingbirds. This is just one way KUB promotes sustainability in our community.”
Anne Brock is marketing coordinator for Solar Alliance, which designs and manages solar installation projects for manufacturers and related grant work for small businesses, as well as teaching a Solar 101 class for continuing education of some professionals. She can be reached at her email or 865-221-8349.