Media Release
20/07/2016
How solar plants and animals match together
meeco to set PV plants in harmony with surroundings
Sustainable development has been established since long as a priority goal of governments,
businesses but also of private investors. As a recently published report of the International
Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) emphasises, solar energy will continue to contribute to this
goal: From todays 2% share of global electricity generated by solar systems, it is supposed to
increase to 13 % by 2030. The meeco Group as a leading clean energy provider fosters
worldwide this development with its projects – even in extremely remote areas.
While pushing forward the growth of the solar sector towards a greener and highly competitive
economy, it is also important to take the environmental aspects around the installations into
account. In his Biodiversity Guidance for Solar Developments (2014), the BRE National Solar
Centre defines solar plants as “excellent opportunity for biodiversity”. The guideline informs
about opportunities to combine solar systems and the enhancement of biodiversity in order to
integrate the environment while pursuing the main aim – generating solar power.
The BRE guidance presents several opportunities to increase the biodiversity value of a site
whereas it also clarifies, that all measures taken depend on the local conditions and no
universal approach can be found. “meeco follows the general intention of the directive by
maintaining different natural habitats like hedgerows and field margins and promoting natural
diversity through self-seeding plants”, states Thomas Beindorf, Chief Technical Officer of the
solar energy company.
Moreover, solar plants and animals can even benefit from each other as the installation at the
V.C. Bird International Airport Antigua, constructed by meeco’s joint venture PV Energy Ltd.,
showcases. In order to keep the grass around the plant short and in good order, sheep have
been deployed. While the natural “lawn mowers” ensure the grassland managing, the animals
The meeco Group
meeco AG | Head Office Switzerland
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can benefit from food and water and the shade the modules provide. In contrast to potential
threats by goats, which would be chewing cables and climbing on the installation or cows that
would be rubbing their backs, sheep are perfectly suitable for maintaining the ground, which
surrounds the installation. Apparently, the sheep are feeling well since already more than 10
lambs have joined the flock in the course of the last months.
However, some animals still represent a threat to solar plants. Several animal species can pose
problems for a smooth operation of the installations. Rats and mice can cut cables in cable
tubes or pigs and razorbacks can dig and destroy cables. In order to protect the installations
but also the animals, numerous measures have to be taken into consideration. Security fences,
grass strips and tree plantings shall prevent bigger mammals, like elephants in Africa or Asia,
from approaching the plants. According to special laws fences are constructed including
passages for small animals, ratites and amphibians.
While ensuring smooth operations of the solar power plants, security fences can at the same
time offer a surface for growing climbers and provide good nectar sources.
All in all, the development and further utilisation of solar energy towards sustainability should
progress in harmony with the local surroundings. The maintenance of biodiversity and the
protection of environmental conditions is an important aspect during the construction phase.
Therefore, meeco is consulting and works closely with biologists in order to look for rare
species and save them if necessary by adapting the area. The meeco Group aims to adapt its
clean and sustainable energy generating products to the territory and to the natural
environment, trying to set both in harmony. About The meeco Group: The meeco Group was consolidated in 2000 and oriented its main
focus towards the energy sector. With world headquarters located in Zug, Switzerland, the
group currently has over 80 employees working across 4 continents. Thanks to a structured but
flexible approach based on its core competencies, The meeco Group has delivered over 370
MWp of clean, renewable energy solutions across four continents. The meeco Group
accomplishes its mission by providing project developers, investors, governments, and private
businesses with the services necessary for timely financing, installation, and operation of clean
energy assets.
Press contact: Sarah Reichelt, Telephone: +49 – 351 – 316 05 15, E-Mail: [email protected]
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© meeco AG, 2016. Zug, Switzerland.
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