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WildSNaP: Wildlife in Solar through Native Planting

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Approach

  • The WildSNaP Project uses repeated sampling of a broad array of wildlife taxa and community occupancy modeling to disentangle factors influencing biodiversity within solar facilities, including:

    • Site Variables: Array Size, Age, Panel and Fencing characteristics, Habitat features such as Wetlands or Pollinator Habitat

    • Management Variables: Ground Cover, Mowing Frequency, Vegetation Characteristics

    • Landscape Variables: Ecoregion, Surrounding Land Cover, Proximity to Wetlands, Streams, Forest Patches

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Traditional Turfgrass
Native Vegetation
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Study Design

  • Working in partnership with several solar companies and site managers, we aim to sample at least 45 solar sites over 3 field seasons

    • Sites managed for native vegetation cover, either through seeding or selective management with mowing and herbicide

    • Sites under traditional mown grass or gravel management

    • Sites vary broadly in size, age, surrounding landscape, etc.

  • Each solar site is paired with a nearby control site typical of land that would be converted to solar in the region (hayfield, cattle pasture, row crop, or mown grass)

  • Sites located in Arkansas and eastern Kansas, spanning the Eastern Great Plains, Interior Highlands, Mississippi Alluvial Plain, and Western Gulf Coastal Plain Ecoreions.

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Field Methods

  • We are sampling wildlife using repeated low-intensity/remote sampling methods:

    • Automated Audio Recorders

      • Breeding birds

      • Frogs

      • Bats

    • Wildlife Cameras

      • Terrestrial Mammals

      • Reptiles and Amphibians

    • Visual Surveys

      • Reptiles and Amphibians

      • Pollinators

    • Detailed Vegetation Sampling

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Analyses and Products

  • Peer-Reviewed Scientific Publications

  • Presentations and Conferences

  • User Implementation Manual for Practitioners and Regulators

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Outreach and Education

Throughout the life of the project, we are sharing information about the project through public speaking events to a wide array of audiences. Our presentations include discussions of wildlife habitat requirements, often with live animals, and how those requirements can be achieved within solar arrays. Typical audiences include K-12 school groups, summer camps, conservation organizations, and community events. If you are interested in having us come talk to your group, please contact Dr. Willson

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The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office supports early-stage research and development to improve the affordability, reliability, and domestic benefit of solar technologies on the grid. Learn more at energy.gov/solar-office.
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