With solar energy developments spreading across rural Australia, a public forum in Armidale this June offers a unique opportunity for anyone involved in solar farm planning or environmental management to learn how biodiversity and clean energy can go hand in hand.
Hosted by the University of New England (UNE), the event will be held in person at NOVA on Tuesday 24 June from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, and will also be available online. It features international expert Dr Josh Ennen from the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (USA), who will share successful ways solar projects in the United States have been designed to support native wildlife alongside energy production.
Dr Ennen’s experience includes more than 60 peer-reviewed publications on renewable energy and wildlife, and he brings a strong understanding of how science can inform land use decisions. His talk will look at how large-scale solar developments overseas are managing land to create long-term habitat for animals, while still meeting energy needs.
Joining him will be UNE’s Dr Eric Nordberg, a local wildlife ecologist who is leading research into how solar farms can work as multi-use landscapes in the Australian context. Dr Nordberg has brought together researchers, land managers and industry in UNE’s Renewable Energy Hub to investigate the potential for solar farms to deliver wider community and ecological outcomes.
The event will include a panel discussion and is open to Traditional Owners, farmers, researchers, land managers, industry representatives and community groups. It will cover topics such as how to integrate conservation into solar farm design, the role of cultural land management, and what kinds of monitoring and policies support better outcomes.
Attendees, whether in person or online, will be able to ask questions or submit them in advance. The session is designed to be interactive and will draw on both international lessons and local expertise.
The event has been organised with support from Community Power Agency and seeks to provide real-world insights into how solar farm design and land management can be improved.
For solar farm proponents, the event offers an opportunity to understand what’s possible when environmental goals are considered from the start. For those concerned about biodiversity in renewable energy spaces, it’s a chance to learn how land under panels might be better managed and to connect with people working towards solutions.
