Nature-inclusive solar | Setting EU level definition & boosting biodiversity on solar parks

In this episode of Shine On Policycast, host Bethany is joined by Lina Dubina, Policy Advisor for Sustainability at SolarPower Europe, to discuss nature-inclusive solar. In a new paper with The Nature Conservancy, SolarPower Europe identify key biodiversity benefits on solar parks, and policy recommendations to ensure solar and nature continue thriving together. Learn about best practices across Europe, and how solar can help the EU stay on track to meet its climate and biodiversity ambitions.

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Transcript

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This is Shine On Policycast, the podcast that brings you EU policy updates relevant to solar. I'm your host, Bethany. Let's get started. So we're here today with a return guest to the policycast. I think it's your third time. It is my third time. So welcome back Lina Dubina, who is our policy advisor for sustainability here at SolarPower Europe. And we have a tradition on the podcast which you're well aware of by now, Lina, since you've been on before where you bring a prop and I have to figure out what it has to do with our topic today, which is all to do with biodiversity and sustainability. So why don't you show us, show us what you have in your hand. Let me put it in the camera so you can see it. So it's. Well, it's a lot of things, it's little black and white seeds. But I'm gonna let you guess, what exactly is it and how does that relate to the topic of nature? This is gonna be really embarrassing if I don't know my seeds. Is it sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds? Yeah, there's sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds, exactly. Do you have an idea of what and how does it link to nature? Yeah, but. Well, it's a seed for start, which is the cornerstone of nature. Sunflower, solar related. They grow very quickly and very well. Good. And they face the sun. Exactly. There's the sun in its word, in itself. But actually I brought them just to showcase how one seed, how one plant can give a lot of benefits to nature, to biodiversity and to humans. So first and foremost, this can serve as a protein, as a food source for humans. So we do eat sunflower seeds, but they also serve as a foods resource or food source for different types of animals. So for instance, the sunflower in itself is a good source of nectar for different types of pollinators like bees and butterflies. And then I'm not going to go back into the whole discussion of why is it important for us and for the ecosystems? So that is one aspect. Sunflowers in itself, they also, they attract different types of insects. So having an abundance of different insects is helpful again for the biological diversity, but it can also work as a control of pest. For instance, in the gardens, but also in agricultural fields. Then sunflowers in themselves, they provide a lot of good benefits for the soil health. So with the roots of the sunflower, it can also prevent soil erosion and it can actually work. So sunflower leaves can also work as a remedy. So some people use it in the tea and that can help, for instance, with treating fever. Okay. And I think last important aspect of sunflower as a plant is, again, because of its roots, it can work as a phytoremidation. So in simple terms, that means that with the two, with the roots, they can absorb different types of chemicals. So that could be, for instance, heavy metals and can allow us to restore polluted sites. So they, I think this is just to showcase how one seed and how one plant can help us in increasing biodiversity, protecting soil, providing food for animals and humans. Wow. It's a real handful of superhero seeds, I guess. Exactly. Okay, so now it's time for me to quiz you. And it's about something I read a few years ago. But have you heard about the windscreen phenomenon related to the windscreen of cars or the windshield? Yeah, I've heard it a little bit, but I'm happy for you to debrief. Me in more detail than detail. It's kind of gross, but I think it's important evidence of the issues we're facing. So it's the idea that since the 2000s, studies have shown that you see 50 to 80% less bugs on your windscreen of your car, which just shows how much, you know, insect populations have declined and that you can see that so clearly day to day. I mean, I don't know about you, but whenever I was a kid, that's something I remember. Bugs in the car. And you never see it now. So obviously that's a clear evidence about the crisis and the challenges that we're facing. But maybe you can tell us a bit more about the scale of the biodiversity loss crisis and what it means for the environment and for people. Exactly. I think maybe just to start off that indeed biodiversity is an important element and plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of human beings as they can maintain and support the life that we know on Earth. They can provide with the food, as I already mentioned earlier. It can also provide us with clean water and kind of other simple ecosystem services that we might not even be aware of. But because of the different drivers, such as mankind, activities have impacted the nature. And that's why we see the decline in biodiversity. But in parallel also, we have climate change. So with the increase of temperature, that also significantly impacts and damages nature and the loss of biodiversity that we see today. And you actually, rightfully, you said, for instance, in terms of the insects, what we see in Europe, there's a decline in 80% of insects across Europe in the past decades. Similarly, we also see a decline in farmland, birds, so there's a decline in 60% of the population. And we also, earlier we discussed also in terms of the poor and bad conditions of different species. For instance, it's 3/3 of European habitats that are under poor or bad conservation status. And the same goes out for specific types of birds, for instance. So I think the biodiversity crisis that we see today, it's huge and it's very unprecedented. It's not something that we've seen in the past decades or ever before. So that's a lot of bad news essentially for us and for our environment. But there are some solutions, there's some positive action. The EU has the biodiversity strategy, the Nature Restores in law, and as a solar sector, we're here to kind of support that. But maybe you can tell us a bit how that all works together. There's legislation and the solar sector. Absolutely. So maybe just starting off with, what is Nature Restoration law? What's the objective? Just I think that will give a better understanding how then solar relates to this piece of legislation. So the main objective of the Nature Restoration Law is to degrade ecosystems, so land and sea ecosystems in Europe. So we have set a target of 20% of restoration of these ecosystems by 2030 and recovering all ecosystems by 10 or 50. And it's a massive legislation that has been put forward in Europe and also on a global level. So it's one of its kind that we see that has been implemented across the globe. And then what specifically, what then solar plays or what role does solar play in all of this? So I think first thing maybe to define is to talk about how do we define nature inclusive solar park? What exactly does it mean to have nature on solar parks? So to simplify, what does the nature inclusive solar means? It's basically solar installations that allow us to not only provide sustainable energy, but also increase biodiversity on solar parks. So we combine protection, restoration and energy production on the same plot of land. And by strategically siting, so looking at what type of land can be used for solar, but also providing good design projects that enhance local flora and fauna, we allow to increase and potentially even provide biodiversity net gains. And that is directly linked to also the objectives of Nature Restoration Law. And when well designed and strategically placed, so that could potentially support these objectives of the nature restoration framework. So it seems like the EU has these initiatives in place, Nature Restoration Law, we try to fit into that. But then how does this all translate specifically down to the member state level, as you're saying? I mean, what more can be done at that sort of national regional local level to support companies who want to develop that nature positive and nature inclusive solar. I think there are a couple of aspects that can be done, I think. Well, first and foremost, as I already mentioned multiple times today. Definition. Exactly. You know it now by heart. Yeah. So integrating into the - as a first process in the policy, integrate the nature inclusive solar PV definition, but also with that, provide developers with the guidance with best examples on how can we site properly the solar PV park so it doesn't impact or doesn't leave an impact on existing biodiversity. How can we construct solar PV projects so we have minimal impact on biodiversity? But also looking at providing monitoring and evaluation framework. So how do we monitor and evaluate biodiversity throughout the lifespan of a solar PV project? So that is one thing that can be done on a national level, but then also two, looking at providing legal requirements, so recognising and integrating nature solar concept into the legal requirements and that can then not only ensure that we develop nature inclusive solar PV parks, but that can also reward developers, so reward and incentivize project developers who want to provide ecosystem benefits or provide biodiversity enhancements on solar projects. And number three is also looking at how we can ensure that nature inclusive solar concept is also integrated into the local spatial planning. And that again, needs to be done in a coordinated level. So we're looking at how can we make sure that national, regional and local levels streamline these processes and kind of align with objectives and targets that are being set. And last but not least, of course, research. So more research, always needed, always supportive of to allow to kind of recognise scale up these type of solutions. And we've just released a report on that very subject, another one to add to your suite of reports on biodiversity and solar. Maybe you want to tell us a little bit about that report. Yeah, indeed. So we actually developed this policy paper, policy paper together with the Nature Conservancy, that's also an environmental ngo, so we work together to produce policy paper where we look at first, how do we define nature inclusive solar PV parks? So that's exactly what I just described to you. Number two, looking at what are the benefits of solar that provides these environmental elements, but also looking at the EU level and looking at what existing policy. Frameworks are there that can support nature. Inclusive solar, but also providing policy recommendations that needs to be put forward so we can see more deployment of such solutions on the ground. And we can read all about that on the Solar Power Europe website and the Nature Conservancy website as well. So then, what are the next steps that we're taking and what are we kind of hoping that we see from the European Commission, the new European Commission and the new European Parliament in terms of supporting this framework? Yeah, I think so. Today, again, we have good existing nature relevant frameworks, policy frameworks put forward. None of them, however, recognise this dual use of concept. So nature inclusive solar PV is not being recognised. So as a first step, it's important that we recognise the potential of these solutions. Second, we provide EU wide definition, so we define what exactly is it when we talk about nature inclusive solar PV parks, and number three, that we ensure that it's being recognised and implemented into the policy framework. So, as already mentioned, the Nature Restoration Law is in its implementation stages, which means that now member states need to draw up the plans where they provide clear targets, clear objectives on how they're going to reach the EU set targets. And I think that's important, that's an important legal aspect where we could see solar or nature positive solar being recognised and included in these plans. Thanks so much for your insights, Lena. And if people want to hear more about the work that you're doing on biodiversity net gain and solar, where can they find you on social media? Yeah, they can definitely find me on LinkedIn. So if you type in my full name, Lina Dubina, you can find. You'll be there. Definitely. Feel free to connect with me. Super. Thanks so much, Lina. Thank you. Thanks for listening to today's episode. This podcast is brought to you by SolarPower Europe. If you don't want to miss our next episode, make sure to subscribe and turn on notification sessions. Shine on.