Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effects of solar farms on nearby wildlife.

Although DECC has not undertaken an assessment of the effects of solar farms on wildlife, analysis recently published by the National Solar Centre indicates that they can have a positive impact on biodiversity:

www.bre.co.uk/filelibrary/pdf/Brochures/NSC-Biodiversity-Guidance.pdf.

(The BRE National Solar Centre Biodiversity Guidance for Solar Developments)

We are continuing to monitor this work.