Animal

Animal collision with photovoltaic panels

The “lake effect” occurs when reflective photovoltaic (PV) panels are mistaken for water by migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. This misperception can cause birds to attempt to land, resulting in collisions or stranding. The impact of a solar facility on birds hinges entirely on whether it uses photovoltaic panels or concentrated solar power. . This summary reviews publicly available information about the adverse impacts and potential benefits of ground-mounted large scale - PV solar power on wildlife in North America, and the status of our knowledge regarding how to mitigate adverse impacts and enhance beneficial impacts. Solar-generated. . Solar energy is a clean, renewable source of energy that has a significantly lower environmental impact than traditional forms of energy, such as coal and oil. Initial reports highlighted incidents of bird mortality at utility-scale facilities. [PDF Version]