A solar plant in England is affecting a species of bats.
As the renewable energy sector gains significant momentum, a few unexpected issues have emerged. When a team of engineers was constructing a solar plant in the UK, they found that bats were being adversely affected by the panels in a number of ways.
The question is, why has this new development emerged from the solar power subsector?
How the clean energy transition has come at a cost for some animal species
With the world finally adopting the renewable energy sector in abundance, a few unforeseen issues have emerged from the new era in energy generation.
The larger species of birds, such as eagles and vultures, are particularly susceptible to collisions with the blades of wind turbines. In North America alone, smaller birds suffer up to 230,000 fatalities every year from collisions with wind turbines.
Bats, however, get the worst of the worst in this regard.
Studies have found that bats often confuse wind farms for roosting sites and are also attracted to the turbines, as insects tend to aggregate around the massive wind towers around the world.
However, bats have a new issue to contend with from solar panel arrays around the globe.
In the energy industry, new potential comes with a few consequences
There can be no denying that the energy transition away from the oil industry has been a landmark achievement for humanity.
However, as more and more of the international community turns to the clean energy generation potential of the renewable energy market, we have come to learn that even this industry comes with a few unexpected issues.
Such as how a wind farm that was supposed to generate vast amounts of energy is actually influencing lightning-like discharges.
Oddly, we have come to understand that a similar balance needs to be developed for the renewable energy industry as we attempted to do for the oil industry. Mother Nature holds no favor or preference for our energy needs, and she is speaking up more and more.
Solar panel arrays have been found to benefit certain species, even attracting some endangered animals to the immediate area around and underneath the panels.
This paradox between the good and bad consequences of solar power farms has been taken a step further by a recent study published in Biological Conservation that details the latest issue for bats when they fly near solar panels.
Study reveals that bats in the UK are confusing solar panels for water
We have learnt how solar panel arrays in the desert have been creating thriving oases for some species, but this development across the pond has explained how solar panels are confusing bats in ways never expected.
Bats make their way through the world by echolocation.
When they send out an acoustic call towards a smooth surface, like a lake, the sound bounces off the body of water. Think of how a mirror reflects light, and you’re halfway there. This study has detailed how bats in the United Kingdom are confusing the smooth surfaces of solar panels for bodies of water.
Researchers have found that solar panels act like “sensory traps” for bats as they mimic the echolocation signature of water.
The magical illusion leads to altered behavior in bats, like reduced activity as well as habitat avoidance. Solar panel arrays have created a new ecological barrier for bats that need to forage and commute.
A recent study has found that some species of birds are facing a similarly confusing issue with solar panels.
So, whether you love or hate solar power, the truth is that even the king of the renewable energy sector has created a few issues that we need to deal with if we are to complete the transition away from fossil fuel power.