Solar energy is increasingly used to produce electricity in Europe, but
the environmental impact of constructing and running solar parks (SP) is
not yet well studied. Solar park construction requires partial
vegetation removal and soil leveling. Additionally, solar panels may
alter soil microclimate and functioning. In our study of three French
Mediterranean solar parks, we analyzed 1) effects of solar park
construction on soil quality by comparing solar park soils with those of
semi-natural land cover types (pinewood and shrubland) and abandoned
croplands (abandoned vineyards); 2) the effect of solar panels on soil
microclimate, CO2 effluxes and vegetation. We measured 21 soil
properties of physical, chemical, and microbiological soil quality in
one solar park and its surroundings to calculate integrated indicators
of soil quality. We surveyed soil temperature and moisture, CO2 effluxes
and vegetation below and outside solar panels of three solar parks. Soil
aggregate stability was reduced by SP construction resulting in a
degradation of soil physical quality. Soil chemical quality and a
general indicator of soil quality were lower in anthropogenic (SP and
abandoned vineyards) than in semi-natural (pinewood and shrubland) land
cover types. However, differences between abandoned vineyards
representing the pre-construction land cover type and solar parks were
not significant. Solar panels reduced the soil temperature by 10% and
soil CO2 effluxes by 50% but did not affect early successional plant
communities. Long-term monitoring is needed to evaluate the effects of
solar panels on vegetation.
Effects of solar parks on soil quality, CO2 effluxes and vegetation under Mediterranean climate