Solar power could harm ecosystems

Could it damage ecosystems?

Solar power has been touted as the renewable energy source that could transform Africa, be it expansive projects in the Sahara or panels on the roofs of homes.  However there could be a negative side effect that no one has yet contemplated - solar panel glare, and what it could do for nearby ecosystems.

The idea that solar power could harm ecosystems will be a blow to the industry, especially as it has been built on the foundation that it is completely clean and beneficial to the planet and environment.

The idea that solar power could harm ecosystems was raised by Michigan State University scientists who said the light glare from solar panels could drastically change the environment around them.

According to their report, certain species of flies, such as mayflies or caddis flies, might mistake the solar cells’ dark surfaces for water and lay their eggs there, making them easy targets for predators. If they fail to reproduce, the scientists believe it would have cascade effect on local species, impacting the food chain severely, maybe even affecting us.

"Polarized light (causes) ecological traps"

Bruce Robertson, a research associate at MSU’s Kellogg Biological Station in Hickory Corners who has broached the concern was quoted by ScienceDaily as saying, "This research demonstrates that solar panels are a strong new source of polarized light pollution that creates ecological traps for many types of insect."

"This is of significant conservation importance given the radical expansion in solar energy development and the strong negative impacts of ecological traps on animal populations."

However, it's not all bad news for the solar industry, there is a solution - using non-polarizing white grids for the solar panels. These white grids would reduce the 'attractiveness' of such false insect habitats by applying what biologists call "habitat fragmentation".

Unfortunately it would also reduce the efficiency of the solar cells by 1.8 percent, a small amount per panel but in the grand scheme of things, quite a lot. However while the industry is suffering in certain areas, advancements such as anti-glare treatments could reduce this effect greatly, reinforcing the solar industry's pledge to prove clean, environmentally safe energy for the planet.

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