Solar and project sustainability

It might seem like solar farms take up a lot of space, but in reality, the land use is quite modest—especially when compared to golf courses (Carbon Brief, 2022) or fossil fuel extraction. Plus, solar installations can often share land with agriculture, creating a win-win for food and energy production.

In Ireland, for example, all the country’s planned solar farms would take up less space than half the land currently used for golf courses. Many of these solar projects are designed to work alongside agriculture or nature, showing that solar and land use can go hand in hand. For more info, click here.

Solar does not threaten food production. In fact, with climate change threatening water supplies and soil quality, Agri-PV offers a great solution by combining solar energy with farming, enabling both to happen on the same land. Studies show that less than 1% of agricultural land would be needed for Agri-PV to meet global energy needs, supporting both energy and food security (Solar PV Power Potential is Greatest Over Croplands, 2019).

Very little. If all proposed solar farms in Spain were built on agricultural land, they would still cover less than 0.4% of it. That means more than 99% of farmland would remain untouched by solar (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2024).

In the EU, solar and wind projects in the EU will only need about 2.2% of all the EU land to meet our 2040 climate neutrality targets (EEB Land for Renewables, 2024), so most of the land will stay the same!

Solar farms can support local ecosystems, by combining restoration and conservation measures with energy production— a practice known as nature-inclusive solar PV. This method helps restore land, as well as protect and enhance biodiversity.

Additionally, solar farms can promote sustainable agriculture through Agri-PV (agriculture + solar). Agri-PV can enhance crop resilience, animal welfare and support sustainable agriculture practices. It can also reduce water usage by 20–30%, shield crops from extreme weather, and support pollinators (Agrisolar Handbook, November 2024). In some cases, it even boosts crop yields. Rather than harming nature, solar can contribute to a healthier, more resilient landscape.

Not really. Solar parks produce very little noise, especially compared to other types of power generation. Solar panels themselves are silent. The only sound comes from inverters and transformers, which produce a gentle hum that is usually only noticeable very close to the equipment – and not outside the boundaries of the solar farm. Also, during construction, there might be temporary noise from machinery, but once operational, solar parks are quiet neighbours.

With the term Floating solar PV, we refer to solar panels that are placed on water surfaces like reservoirs, ponds, or artificial lakes – or at sea. This provides a solution for countries facing land scarcity issues by enabling the use of water surfaces for solar energy production.

Onshore Floating solar PV can not only improve water surface, but also provide water conservation benefits, improve or preserve water quality, reduce environmental impacts, and where appropriate, provide the right conditions for wildlife to thrive.

Offshore Floating solar PV systems are installed in open, unsheltered waters where wave heights often exceed 2 to 3 meters. This technology opens up new opportunities in locations where other renewable energy options are impractical or too costly. It also has a very high “energy density”, meaning that much more capacity can be deployed per unit of area, and the solar resource at sea is typically better than on land, with fewer clouds and no shading, providing a highly abundant energy source (Floating PV Best Practices, December 2023).

No, on the contrary, solar can help preserve and protect nature. Solar farms are usually built on open or previously used land, such as unused urban land or farmland. In Europe, forests are protected, and projects that would require cutting down trees are rarely approved. In fact, solar often helps protect nature by reducing the need for fossil fuels.

Forests and solar parks both fight climate change, but in different ways. Forests absorb CO₂, while solar parks prevent emissions by replacing fossil fuels with clean energy. A well-placed solar park can avoid hundreds of tonnes of CO₂ per hectare each year (RRFF). However, not all land is suitable; solar on low-value or already cleared land can be a great climate solution, but converting a biodiverse forest to solar would likely cause more harm than good. Each site must be carefully assessed to balance climate action with nature protection.

Yes. One of the advantages of solar is that it's a non-invasive, reversible technology. Most systems are built with minimal concrete or foundations, especially in ground-mounted installations. When the solar park reaches the end of its life (usually after 30 years), panels and equipment can be removed, and the land can be restored for agriculture, development, or conservation, depending on prior use and planning requirements. In fact, some leases and permits require a decommissioning plan upfront to ensure this.