Solar generator teams up with RSPB to ‘give nature a home’

Solar generator Lightsource Renewable Energy has joined forces with environmental NGO RSPB to launch a competition asking schoolchildren to design a new-look bird nesting or bat roosting box that can be installed on solar farms around the UK, to “give nature a home”.

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RSPB’s State of Nature report, published earlier this year, found that over the last 50 years wildlife in the UK has suffered from a dramatic loss of natural habitat, seeing a 60% decline in more than 3,000 native species of plants and animals.  Targeted conservation has produced some progress but more work needs to be done to protect at-risk species.

The competition aims to address this challenge by creating a home for nature at solar farms across the UK.

Mark Turner, operations director at Lightsource, said, “The passive nature of solar technology makes it ideal for working alongside wildlife conservation efforts and habitat enhancements, as it creates no noise or pollution. It is this ability to generate clean, safe electricity whilst maintaining a respect for nature that makes solar power such a viable energy source.”

School pupils from across the country are being encouraged to be creative and design a new-look bird nesting or bat roosting box. The winning pupil will win a free solar energy installation for their school, which will have the capability to reduce the school’s electricity bill significantly.

Turner added, “It will be the future generations who really feel the effects of the rapidly depleting fossil fuel supplies around the world. It’s important to educate on the need for a reliable and renewable source of home-grown energy.”

Photo: Russ Ferriday via Flickr 

Further reading:

Solar farm plans with eye on wildlife approved in Flintshire

Plans to turn solar farms into biodiversity hotspots unveiled

RSPB switch to green energy provider Ecotricity

RSPB drone technology to watch over UK’s threatened bird species

NGOs call on the UK to take the lead at UN climate summit