Wild Power, Biodiversity and Solar Farms: A Business Model to Encourage Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation at Scale

Abstract

The UK is facing a sustained decline in biodiversity while struggling to meet its targets for renewable energy production. Wild Power is a new approach to renewable energy supply that requires native biodiversity to be restored on its generating sites as a core component of the business model. A customer pays a small premium which is used to encourage biodiversity, and in return receives a guarantee of renewable energy supply and biodiversity benefit. Solar farms are the ideal vehicle for delivering biodiversity benefits as the panels oversail the land, most of which is available for ecological enhancement. Furthermore, solar farms are spread across the landscape and collectively cover a significant land area. Core to Wild Power’s approach is engaging local communities with solar farms to raise awareness of the multiple benefits of this technology, but also as a means of reconnecting people with nature. The Wild Power approach has been designed for UK solar farms, with aim to expand to wider renewable technologies, and countries in time. It is believed that this approach is novel and has global implications for biodiversity and sustainable development. This chapter presents the Wild Power model and describes its intent to encourage renewable energy as a means of mitigating climate change and promote adaptation through the creation of biodiversity-rich sites that should also enhance ecosystem services delivery.