A Japanese Solar Plant on a Former Golf Course Now Hosts 211 Plant Species
A survey in Gifu found plant diversity under and between the panels no different from nearby grassland, though researchers say the result is early and site-specific.
Solar panels can sit on land that still supports a rich mix of plants. That is the finding of a new study of a 55-megawatt solar plant in Gujo, Gifu prefecture, central Japan, built on a former golf course and operated by Pacifico Energy since July 2019. The research, by Miharu Nakatani, Akira Noda and Takeshi Osawa, appeared in the *Journal of Environmental Management*, as reported by pv magazine.
What the survey found
The team surveyed 60 plots across the 169-hectare site in summer and fall 2024 and recorded 211 plant species from 54 families. They compared five settings: under panels near forest, under panels near grassland, between panel rows, open grassland and the forest edge.
- Species richness and diversity did not differ significantly among the five settings
- Native plants covered more ground than non-native plants in every setting
- Vegetation under the panels resembled forest-edge plants, including shade-tolerant ferns, while open grassland was dominated by Miscanthus
How it happened
The site was sown with a commercial seed mix on bare soil before operation, then mowed twice a year. The authors call the approach "passive ecovoltaics," relying on natural plant succession with little upkeep. They suggest panel shade favored forest species, and that the steep terrain kept every point within about 200 meters of forest, so seeds could spread easily.
Honest limits
The authors stress this is one site surveyed over one year, with no direct measurements of shade, moisture or soil. They estimate seed supply would likely be limited where a facility's center is more than a kilometer from its edge. They also warn against greenwashing: solar should not replace grassland that supports rare or sun-loving species. They call for multi-year studies across several facilities.
Why it matters
As countries look for room for solar power, reusing disturbed land such as old golf courses, and managing it for nature, could let clean energy and biodiversity share the same ground.