Camera traps across Dutch solar fields recorded more hares and hedgehogs than nearby grasslands

Dutch researchers are tracking the wildlife impacts of solar installations expanding across the countryside.

Worldwide, developers are deploying large-scale green energy projects across rural regions to maximize output efficiency.

In the Netherlands, vast photovoltaic arrays are rapidly transforming agricultural plots, raising biodiversity conservation concerns.

With power grids under immense pressure globally, renewable energy capacity must rise to prevent continued fossil fuel reliance.

Recent field studies have been conducted to determine whether these projects may have unexpected ecological effects.

Do these utility-scale solar park developments alter local wildlife behavior?

How rural landscapes are helping to maximize output

Globally, nations are under pressure to meet decarbonization goals.

The rapid growth of digital infrastructure, widespread electrification, and industry expansion have made this more complex.

These changes are primary drivers of the world’s growing electricity consumption.

With power grids under immense pressure globally, renewable energy capacity must rise to prevent continued fossil fuel reliance.

For many, large-scale solar projects offer the ideal solution to this dual crisis.

In the Netherlands, for example, national capacity is already pushing past 36 gigawatts.

But this is still far from the nation’s aimed 50 gigawatts of renewable capacity.

Additionally, the Dutch government has set an interim 2040 target.

Under the Climate Plan 2025-2030, the nation must achieve a 90% reduction in emissions.

To offset its rising energy demands while meeting strict climate targets, high-volume output is needed.

Fortunately, the country has many flat agricultural fields that offer ideal conditions for expansive photovoltaic projects.

The pros and cons of expanding solar capacity across the countryside

By accelerating deployment across rural regions, solar generation density can be maximized per acre.

Standard land-based panels require flat land, which the Dutch agricultural terrain offers.

Furthermore, these sites often enjoy concentrated sunlight exposure, ideal for boosting power generation.

But the benefits extend beyond decarbonization and grid stabilization.

Farmers or property owners with low-yielding or underused land can lease these sites to developers. This creates steady, long-term income streams.

Additionally, these utility-scale plants significantly boost local economic growth. 

Throughout all development stages, these projects create jobs while raising regional economic activity.

Despite these advantages, these projects also face major bottlenecks.

Challenges range from permitting backlogs and strict spatial planning regulations to mounting ecological concerns.

Most notably, researchers are worried about wildlife land-use competition and habitat fragmentation.

A two-year study tracked how ground-mounted panels in agricultural regions affect terrestrial mammals.

It monitored 15 solar fields and control sites, including extensive and intensive grasslands across the Netherlands.

Inside the Dutch camera trap study

Local wildlife can react differently to solar farms than most would expect.

The two-year study in the Netherlands was conducted by researchers from various Dutch ecological institutions.

Across the 15 large-scale photovoltaic fields and neighboring agricultural grasslands, automated camera traps were installed.

Together, 6.75 million images were captured, which recorded terrestrial mammal behavior, presence, and diversity.

After the data were analyzed, the researchers established surprising ecological patterns across the sites.

Evaluating the ecological patterns of terrestrial mammals

Inside the fenced solar parks, hares and hedgehogs showed a higher frequency of presence compared to the control grasslands.

This is because the fenced parks served as undisturbed refuge zones away from intensive farming activities.

Meanwhile, roe deer also adapted to the property.

The deer integrated the boundaries of the solar park into their daily movement corridors.

The study’s findings prove that utility-scale solar parks can also act as unexpected wildlife sanctuaries.

However, this entirely depends on how these green energy sites are managed.

For Dutch developers racing to expand solar capacity, responsible site planning and management is key.

Integrating ecological corridors into zoning guidelines will help boost ecological protection.

Furthermore, prioritizing wildlife-friendly fencing and native vegetation planting can help local biodiversity thrive.

Ultimately, Dutch solar projects can meet clean energy ambitions while ensuring wildlife conservation.

The study’s findings are available for review at Tavernier, C., de Vries, S., Buij, R. et al. Implications for mammal presence and diversity of solar panel fields in agricultural landscapes. Landsc Ecol 41, 70 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-026-02320-3